The rule in one line
Every pupil of compulsory school age is entitled to a full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude and any special educational needs. The DfE’s statutory guidance, Working together to improve school attendance (July 2026), says that “in very exceptional circumstances, where it is in a pupil’s best interests”, a school may need to provide less than full-time education through a temporary part-time timetable (paragraph 66).
Its example is a pupil with a medical condition that stops them attending full time, where a part-time timetable helps them get as much education as possible.
National rules and local practice
Search results for part-time timetables are mostly local authority documents, and they often add rules of their own. It helps to know which is which.
| Rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Very exceptional circumstances, in the pupil’s best interests | National guidance (paragraph 66) |
| Not to be used to manage behaviour | National guidance (paragraph 66) |
| Agreement of the school and the parent the pupil lives with | National guidance (paragraph 67), and the 2024 regulations for maintained schools |
| Regular reviews, a proposed end date, part of a wider plan | National guidance (paragraph 67) |
| Keep the social worker informed and involved | National guidance (paragraph 68) |
| Discuss with the local authority if the pupil has an EHC plan | National guidance (paragraph 69) |
| Record with code C2 (or X below compulsory school age) | National guidance (paragraphs 70 and 345 to 349) |
| A maximum of 6 or 8 weeks | Local authority guidance only |
| Reviews every 2 weeks | Local authority guidance only |
| Tell the local authority about every part-time timetable | Local authority guidance only |
| A set form or written agreement template | Local authority guidance only |
Local rules still matter, because your local authority may monitor part-time timetables and expect you to follow its process. But they are not national law, and the national guidance doesn’t set a time limit.
What a part-time timetable should have
Paragraph 67 says a part-time timetable should:
- have the agreement of both the school and the parent the pupil normally lives with
- have a clear ambition and be part of the pupil’s wider support, health care or reintegration plan
- have regular review dates that include the pupil and their parents, so it is in place only for the shortest time necessary
- have a proposed end date, after which the pupil is expected to attend full time, at school or in alternative provision
It can be extended at a review. In some limited cases a pupil with a long-term health condition may need one for a longer period.
It is not a behaviour sanction
The guidance is direct: “A part-time timetable should not be used to manage a pupil’s behaviour” (paragraph 66). Where behaviour is the issue, the school should use its behaviour policy and the support around it, not a reduced timetable.
Agreement, not instruction
A part-time timetable needs the parent’s agreement. In maintained schools and non-maintained special schools, the legal basis is a leave of absence under regulation 11(6) of the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. It can only be granted where the school and the parent the pupil normally lives with have agreed that, exceptionally, the pupil should temporarily be educated part time, and have agreed the times and dates the pupil will attend (paragraph 346). Academies and other schools not bound by regulation 11 still use the same code for the same kind of agreement (paragraph 347).
Agreement should be real. A parent should understand what the plan is for, how long it is expected to last and when it will be reviewed. Because the guidance requires the parent’s agreement, a parent can say no, and the pupil then remains entitled to full-time education. Putting the agreement in writing, with the times, dates and review dates, makes it clear what was agreed.
Recording it in the register
By agreeing to a part-time timetable, the school has agreed to the pupil being absent for part of the week or day, and must record that absence (paragraph 70). The code is normally C2: leave of absence for a compulsory school age pupil subject to a part-time timetable, which counts as authorised absence (paragraphs 345 to 349). Code X is for pupils below compulsory school age, such as a reception child not yet five, who are not required to attend.
Two points from the code guidance:
- Registration still happens at the same time for all pupils, including those on part-time timetables.
- C2 must not be used where the pupil is getting a full-time education but only part of it at your school, for example through dual registration, part-time alternative provision or flexi-schooling. Use the code for where the pupil actually is.
Because C2 is absence, it lowers the pupil’s attendance figure. Keep that in mind when reading persistent or severe absence data for a pupil on a part-time timetable.
Social workers and EHC plans
- If the pupil has a social worker, the school is expected to keep them informed and involved (paragraph 68). This includes pupils on a child protection or child in need plan, and looked-after children.
- If the pupil has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, the school should discuss the part-time timetable with the local authority so the support package can be reviewed as quickly as possible (paragraph 69).
Some local authorities also ask schools to tell them about every part-time timetable. Check your local authority’s process.
SEND and disability
Many part-time timetables involve pupils with special educational needs, disabilities or health conditions. The Equality Act 2010 applies. Under section 85, schools must not discriminate against a disabled pupil and must make reasonable adjustments. Before reducing a disabled pupil’s timetable, ask whether adjustments or extra support would let them attend full time instead, and record what you considered.
The safeguarding angle
A pupil on a part-time timetable is out of school, and not always supervised, for part of the week. Keeping children safe in education 2026 says absence from education, especially for prolonged periods, can be a warning sign of neglect, exploitation and other harms (paragraph 221). Before agreeing one, the DSL should know about it and consider:
- where the pupil will be, and with whom, when not in school
- whether anything already known about the child, such as exploitation risk, makes time out of school riskier
- how the school will stay in contact and spot a change
A short checklist
- Is this a very exceptional circumstance, and in the pupil’s best interests?
- Is it about health, reintegration or another need, and not behaviour?
- Does the parent the pupil lives with agree, and is that recorded?
- Is it part of a written support, health care or reintegration plan?
- Are the attendance times, review dates and end date set?
- Has the social worker, or the local authority for an EHC plan, been told?
- Have reasonable adjustments been considered for a disabled pupil?
- Is it coded C2, and reviewed on the dates agreed?
For the wider attendance rules, see our guides to persistent and severe absence and school attendance fines.