NAfSA Position Statement: Why Statutory Enforcement Must Remain a Last-Resort Safeguard Within a ‘Support First’ Attendance System

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Support First—Always. But why a statutory backstop still matters for school attendance. At the National Alliance for School Attendance (NAfSA), we know from decades of frontline practice across schools, trusts, and local authorities that you cannot fine your way out of an attendance crisis. When absence is driven by unmet SEND, mental health challenges, or family hardship, families need meaningful, multi-agency support—not threat letters. That is why Support First sits at the heart of our platform and our practice. At the same time, we must reject the false choice between compassion and statutory responsibility. NAfSA defends the proportionate use of enforcement activity—strictly as a last resort—when every reasonable avenue of support has been offered, evidenced, and refused. Why? Because compulsory education laws exist to protect the child's fundamental right to learn and be kept safe. Removing the statutory backstop entirely leaves frontline teams with nowhere to turn when engagement breaks down completely, and weakens statutory tools (like Education Supervision Orders and formal agreements) designed to mandate collaborative support. Our position is simple: 1) Support First, every time: Diagnose barriers, adapt provision, and work alongside families. 2) Robust governance: Never use enforcement where unmet need is the driver of absence. 3) Enforcement as a true last resort: Retain a fair, transparent legal backstop when all supportive pathways have been exhausted. Read our full position statement:

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