Survey for parents and carers
What makes coming to school harder
A supportive survey to understand what gets in the way of children coming to school, from worry and health to travel and costs, and whether families feel able to ask for help. About 4 minutes to complete.
What respondents read first
This survey asks what makes it easier or harder for your child to come to school, so we can give the right help. It takes about 4 minutes. It is anonymous: the school cannot see who answered, and results are only shown for groups of 5 or more. If you have more than one child at the school, please answer about your eldest child there. If you write something that makes us worried about a child's safety, the school's safeguarding lead will see that comment so they can help.
How anonymity works in this survey
- The school cannot see who answered. Nothing is reported until 10 people have answered.
- A group, such as one role or one year group, is shown only when 5 or more people in it have answered. Smaller groups are hidden.
- An answer chosen by fewer than 5 people is hidden, along with enough others that it cannot be worked out by subtraction.
- Written comments appear only once 10 people have answered.
The questions
Numbered in the order respondents see them.
Respondents choose
Which year is your child in?
- Nursery (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Reception (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 1 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 2 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 3 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 4 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 5 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 6 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 7 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 8 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 9 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 10 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 11 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 12 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 13 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
This places each answer in a group for the report. It is the only question about the person answering.
Attendance11
- Question 4.
How does your child usually get to school?
Choose one
- Walk
- Car
- Public bus
- School bus or council transport
- Train or tram
- Bike or scooter
- Other
- Question 5.
Getting to school on time is easy for our family.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 6.
In the last half term, how often was your child unwilling or upset about going to school?
Choose one
- Never
- Once or twice
- About once a week
- Several times a week
- Most days
- Question 7.
If your child sometimes finds it hard to come to school, what makes it hard? Choose all that apply.
Choose any that apply
- My child does not find it hard
- Worry or anxiety
- Illness or health needs
- Problems getting on with other children or staff
- Needs that are not being met in school
- Getting to school, such as transport or distance
- Costs, such as travel, food or equipment
- Uniform rules
- Looking after someone at home
- Something else
- Question 10.
If my child struggled to come to school, I would feel able to ask the school for help.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 11.
When my child has missed school, staff ask what is getting in the way before anything else.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 12.
If my child finds it hard to come in, the school offers practical help.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 13.
The school helps my child catch up after time off.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 14.
If we needed it, the school would help us get support from other services, such as health or family support.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 15.
Messages from the school about attendance are respectful.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 16.
What one thing would make it easier for your child to come to school?
Write your own answer
Overall1
- Question 1.
My child looks forward to going to school on most days.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Wellbeing and pastoral care1
- Question 3.
There is an adult at school my child trusts and can talk to.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Belonging and inclusion1
- Question 2.
My child feels they belong at this school.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Cost of the school day2
- Question 8.
The cost of school uniform is affordable for our family.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 9.
I would feel comfortable asking the school for help with costs.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Free to run. The full report is £149.
Running it is free and gives you the headline result, with strengths and priorities. The full report adds every chart, comments grouped into themes and briefing slides.
Start this survey freeRelated surveys
- Belonging and attendance survey (secondary)
For pupils in Years 7 to 13: what makes it easier or harder to come to school, from friends, belonging and a trusted adult to worry, tiredness and being welcomed back.
- Cost of the school day
Shows where the cost of uniform, kit, trips, equipment, food and clubs is a barrier for families, and how often children miss out, to inform your charging policy and Pupil Premium strategy. Best run in early spring.
- When school feels hard
For all pupils in Years 7 to 13, to help plan support for anxious pupils and those who find it hard to come in: mornings, busy corridors and noise, changes, a calm place, a trusted adult and what would make coming in easier.
- Home to school transport
Mainly for special schools: shows how long and reliable journeys are, how well drivers, escorts and the school keep families informed, and how settled children are when they arrive. Best run in the first half of the autumn term.