Kent County Councils Relational Approaches to support School Belonging and Attendance guide and toolkit to complement existing initiatives aimed at improving school attendance across Kent.
This resource explores the underlying reasons behind attendance issues and highlights the pivotal role schools play in supporting our most vulnerable young people. It emphasizes the importance of relationships in helping children and their families feel safe, valued, and connected to their school community.
The toolkit is grounded in relational approaches—meaning it promotes responsive, person-centred practices when working with children and young people to strengthen their connection to school. It also underscores the value of collaborative work with other professionals supporting families, demonstrating how relational and proactive partnership approaches can positively influence school attendance.