In this episode, host Melissa is joined by Sam Eustace to explore the vital and often overlooked connection between school attendance and safeguarding. Together, they unpack how patterns of absence can signal wider wellbeing concerns, the importance of a proactive, whole-school approach, and the shared responsibilities of educators, leaders, and safeguarding professionals.

With real-world insights and practical strategies, Melissa and Sam discuss how ensuring every pupil is both present and protected lies at the heart of effective educational practice.

Whether you're a teacher, DSL, school leader, or policymaker, this conversation will deepen your understanding of how attendance and safeguarding intersect and why neither can be addressed in isolation.

In this episode, Melissa Warwick sits down with Mark Cowan, Associate Assistant Headteacher at Egglescliffe School, to explore how schools can tackle the complex challenges of missed learning, exclusions, and internal truancy.

Rather than focusing solely on numbers and attendance registers, Mark and his team are shaping whole-school approaches and personalised strategies that prioritise culture, connection, and compassion.

This episode is for school leaders, teachers, and anyone passionate about building inclusive, resilient school cultures where every student has the chance to thrive.