Ellie Costello is a prominent national advocate dedicated to driving systemic transformation and policy reform for pupils experiencing educational barriers. A co-author of the influential publication “Square Pegs: compassion, inclusion and fitting in – a guide for schools”, she has twice provided expert testimony to the Education Select Committee. Ellie currently serves as the Parliamentary Vice Co-Chair for the Special Education Consortium at the National Children’s Bureau and holds multiple advisory board roles.
Her focus bridges the gap between research, practice, and policy, positioning the lived experiences of families as a fundamental component in designing effective solutions. By championing the principle that no decisions should be made regarding children and their caregivers without their direct involvement, she seeks to enhance outcomes for students, families, and practitioners alike. Rooted in systems thinking and social justice, Ellie’s extensive background in advocacy, strategic partnerships and media continues to shape the national discourse on developing compassionate, inclusive educational environments.
Caroline Bond was formerly a primary school teacher and specialist educational psychologist working on an autism diagnostic team. She is currently placement and selection lead for the doctorate in educational psychology programme (DECP) at the University of Manchester. This is an initial training programme for educational psychologists. Caroline leads the DECP attendance strand of research and she recently led the practitioner and academic collaboration which produced the N8 attendance reports Improving school attendance – N8 Research Partnership, emphasising the importance of local collaborative solutions.
The menus below were updated in October 2026. If you have information to share with others in your country, please contact your country’s hosts: Ellie Costello (ellie@teamsquarepeg.org) or Caroline Bond (caroline.bond@manchester.ac.uk).
England
In England, along with many other nations there has been increasing concern about rates of school attendance since Covid-19. In England, children are expected to attend school when they are of compulsory school age (the term after their fifth birthday until June of the year they turn 16 years of age). School attendance is primarily the responsibility of parents who risk being prosecuted if their child does not attend school regularly. Fines for non-attendance begin after a child has had 5 days of unauthorised absence during a 10 week period and can result in prosecution for continued unauthorised absence. Head teachers can only authorise term time holidays in ‘exceptional circumstances’. In addition to support from schools and Education Welfare Officers, most local authorities provide guidance for parents and schools outlining local support with school attendance.
Education Welfare Officers are often employed by local authorities or school trusts to work with schools and families to promote school attendance and inclusion. The AEWM – Association for Education Welfare Management provides professional support for managers in education welfare, education social work and safeguarding services in education.
Key government guidance relating to school attendance in England emphasises the importance of schools and agencies working together with parents and carers. Current Working Together to improve school attendance guidance can be found here: Working together to improve school attendance – GOV.UK
Communicating with parents about attendance: a toolkit for schools – GOV.UK
A number of organisations also provide support for parents and professionals working in the attendance field:
Not Fine in School – Not Fine in School | Supporting Families with Barriers to School Attendance
Barriers to Education – Welcome to Barriers to Education
Define Fine – Define Fine | Support for School Attendance Difficulties
Contact a Family – Support for School Attendance
Square Peg – Working Together to Find Solutions to School Attendance (UK coverage)
Young Minds – School Anxiety and Refusal
Academics working in the field of school attendance in England include:
Wales
Wales has similar attendance processes to England. In Wales, children of compulsory school age are also expected to attend school regularly. School attendance is primarily the responsibility of parents with fines or prosecutions being a last resort. Fines for non-attendance can begin after a child has had 5 days of unauthorised absence during the current school term and can result in prosecution for continued unauthorised absence. However, Welsh local authorities can decide when to issue fines to parents and head teachers have some discretion to authorise term time holidays. Schools are expected to work with parents and the Education Welfare Service to improve attendance in the first instance. In addition to support from schools and Education Welfare Officers, most local authorities provide guidance for parents and schools outlining local support with school attendance.
Key government guidance relating to school attendance in Wales emphasises the importance of collaboration with parents and carers:
School attendance and absence | Sub-topic | GOV.WALES
The Senedd and Parentkind have also undertaken research into school attendance in Wales:
Understanding pupil absence in schools in Wales -… | Parentkind
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, compulsory schooling is normally 4-16 years of age. Children are expected to attend school regularly and school attendance is also a parental responsibility. There are no strict guidelines regarding the number of days of absence before prosecution, but schools must refer to the Education Welfare Service when a child’s attendance falls below 85%. Parents are encouraged not to take their child on holiday during term time as this usually counts as unauthorised absence.
Key government guidance relating to school attendance in N Ireland emphasises the importance of collaboration with parents and carers.
School Attendance | Department of Education
Attendance Matters – Practical guidance to improve attendance together | Department of Education
Scotland
Scotland has a different legal framework for attendance to the rest of the UK. Details of the Scottish context can be found on the UK – Scotland My Country page.
We are planning to start online England, Wales and NI INSA group meetings in the summer of 2026. If you are interested in participating, please contact Caroline or Ellie.
2026
March – National Association of Principal Educational Psychologists School Attendance Guidance published
June – Ellie Costello and representatives from family support charities invited to meet with Minister for Schools Standards, Georgia Gould MP, to discuss the impact of punitive sanctions on children’s and families lives and the relationship with schools and services.
Prof Caroline Bond and Dr Kathryn Lester present at Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health workshop: Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) in Practice: Evidence, Complexity, and Recovery-Oriented Approaches
Dr Kathryn Lester contributes to Department for Education evaluation of the Attendance Mentors intervention in England
July – Caroline Bond, Joe Wilson, Alys Dilks, Lisa Aveyard, Rebecca Moynhan and Anna Connolly presented a symposium on attendance and the role of educational psychologists at the International School Psychology Association Conference in Lyon.
A full list of Square Peg achievements and impact is available on their website
2025
January – Caroline Bond and Rachel Lyons presented the Barriers to Education Framework at the Division of Educational and Child Psychology Conference
January – Square Peg submits evidence to the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill Committee
July – Ellie Costello gives evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee session on Attendance, covered in TES Magazine
October – Caroline Bond was part of a panel discussion about school attendance at the Labour Party Conference
November – Caroline Bond and Luke Munford led on the N8 school attendance update: Improving school attendance – N8 Research Partnership
December – Ellie Costello receives the Big Change Leadership Award to facilitate a 2 year piece of work in Greater Manchester
2024
March – Caroline Bond presented at the UCL Leading Edge Day on school attendance
October – Caroline Bond led the team which produced the N8 research partnership school attendance report: Improving school attendance – N8 Research Partnership
2023
July – Caroline Bond, Matthew Fletcher and Claire Neilson presented a symposium on Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance at the International School Psychology Conference, Bologna
2022
May – Ellie Costello gives evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee Inquiry on School Attendance
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Organisations and charities supporting children and families, and working with the government on policy including engagement in education.
