Part-Time Timetables and SEND: What Parents Need to Know

PIASS Summary for Parents: Part-Time Timetables (July 2026 Attendance Guidance)

The updated Department for Education guidance, Working Together to Improve School Attendance (July 2026), reinforces that all children are entitled to a full-time education and that part-time timetables should only be used in exceptional circumstances.

What is a part-time timetable?

A part-time timetable is a temporary arrangement where a child attends school for fewer hours than normal. It may be appropriate when a child has significant health, emotional wellbeing, or SEND-related needs that make full-time attendance difficult.

Key safeguards for parents

A part-time timetable should:

• Be used only when it is in the child’s best interests.
• Have the agreement of the school and the parent/carer.
• Form part of a wider support, health, reintegration, or SEND plan.
• Include clear review dates and involve parents and the child where appropriate.
• Have a clear plan to return to full-time education as soon as possible.

For children with SEND

The 2026 guidance strengthens expectations that schools should consider:

• Whether absence is linked to SEND, anxiety, mental health, or disability-related barriers.
• Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act before considering other interventions.
• Working closely with families and professionals such as Educational Psychologists, CAMHS, health professionals, social workers, and EHCP coordinators where involved.

What part-time timetables must NOT be used for

Schools should not use part-time timetables to:

• Manage challenging behaviour.
• Reduce pressure on school resources.
• Avoid meeting SEND duties.
• Provide an indefinite reduction in education without proper review.

Questions parents can ask the school

If your child is offered a part-time timetable, it is reasonable to ask:

1. Why is a part-time timetable necessary?
2. What evidence supports this decision?
3. What support will be provided during the reduced timetable?
4. What is the planned end date?
5. How and when will progress be reviewed?
6. What steps will help my child return to full-time attendance?
7. How are my child’s SEND or disability needs being addressed?

What if My Child Needs the Timetable to Be Extended?

Sometimes a child is not ready to return to full-time education within the original timescale.

If an extension is needed:

• The school should hold a review meeting with parents and relevant professionals.
• The reasons for continuing the reduced timetable should be clearly recorded.
• There should be evidence that support and reasonable adjustments have been considered.
• A revised plan should set out the next steps, review date and intended outcomes.
• The arrangement should remain temporary and continue only for as long as necessary.
• In Plymouth, schools must notify the Local Authority when a part-time timetable continues beyond six weeks by completing a further notification form.

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you may wish to ask whether an early annual review is needed to consider whether additional support or amendments to the plan are required.

If you feel a part-time timetable is being used inappropriately, or your child is not receiving suitable education, contact PIASS service for advice and support.

Bottom line: A part-time timetable should be a short-term, carefully reviewed support measure, not a long-term solution. Schools should focus on understanding barriers to attendance and making reasonable adjustments to help children, including those with SEND, access full-time education wherever possible.

More information can be found at: Part-Time Timetable (IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice.

Resources

Download this page as a factsheet:

• Part-Time Timetables and SEND: What Parents Need to Know (PDF – 227KB)