# School absence: how parents can ask for help

Is your child often absent from school? Learn how to contact the school, listen to your child and agree on support before absence becomes high.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bekymringsfullt-skolefravaer-foreldre
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-05T16:12:16.516+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-05T21:05:14.30637+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Make contact early The duty to follow up applies from the first day of absence, but measures must fit the situation.
- Listen to your child’s explanation Look for what makes the school day difficult and what could make it safer.
- Agree on measures and reassessment Ask for a clear contact person, concrete tasks and a time for follow-up.

Repeated school absence should be raised with the school early. Listen to your child and ask to work together on the causes. The school must follow up absence from the first day, but support must fit the situation.

## When should you contact the school?

Contact the school when your child is often absent or finds getting there difficult. You do not need to wait until absence is high or your child has not received a grade.

Utdanningsdirektoratet (Udir), the government agency for schools and education, describes [the duty to follow up absence](https://www.udir.no/regelverk-og-tilsyn/skole-og-opplaring/plikt-til-a-folge-opp-fravar/). Under section 10-6 of the Education Act, the duty applies to all types of absence from the first day. The rules were checked on 4 October 2026.

This does not mean that every cold needs a large meeting. Follow-up must fit the cause, duration and pattern. Repeated difficulties can require help even before your child has many days of absence.

This guide concerns cooperation when the school day becomes difficult. Rules about grades and percentage limits are in SamfunnPrep’s guide to [grades and absence](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/karakterer-og-fravaer-norsk-skole).

## How do you listen to your child?

Ask your child to describe what is difficult without demanding a complete explanation. Your child’s experience can provide important information about which measures to try.

Udir describes concerning absence as a sign that something is wrong. Causes can be complex. Starting by saying that the child is lazy or unwilling to cooperate is therefore of little use.

Ask calmly and concretely. You can ask about times, rooms, subjects or situations that are particularly difficult. Let your child also describe when things go better. You do not have to identify one single cause that evening.

You can use questions such as:

- Which part of the day is most difficult?
- Is there anyone at school you feel safe with?
- Are there subjects or tasks you do not understand?
- What could make the morning or first lesson easier?
- How would you like to explain this to the school?

Write down your child’s own words when useful. Distinguish what the child says, what you observe and what you yourself think. Consider what your child wants to share in the meeting.

## How do you ask for a meeting?

Send a short message to the class teacher and ask to cooperate on the absence. Describe the pattern and your concern without assigning a diagnosis.

One possible message is:

“My child has had difficulty getting to school in recent weeks. This particularly concerns [time or situation]. I would like a meeting about the causes and what we can do together. My child must be able to contribute their explanation. Who can follow up the case?”

This is a **suggested message**. Use the school’s usual contact channel. Do not put sensitive information in a shared group with other parents.

Ask for an interpreter if language prevents you from understanding and participating. State the language you need before the meeting. SamfunnPrep explains more in the guide to [interpreters at school and kindergarten](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/tolk-barnehage-skole-norge).

Bring a simple overview of absence and earlier contact. Write what you have already tried and how it went. This allows the school to prepare for the specific situation.

## What should a follow-up agreement contain?

A useful agreement describes what the school, family and any other services will do. It should also state who follows up and when you assess the result.

Udir’s [advice on preventing concerning absence](https://www.udir.no/laring-og-trivsel/forebygge-og-folge-opp-bekymringsfullt-fravar/slik-kan-skolen-forebygge-bekymringsfullt-fravar/) stresses cooperation, pupil participation and safety. No single solution suits every child.

Ask for answers on these points:

| Point | What to clarify | Example question |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Contact | Who is the regular contact at school? | Whom do we notify in the morning? |
| Measures | What will change in the school day? | What will you do in the situation our child struggles with? |
| Responsibility | Who carries out the measure? | Who meets our child on arrival? |
| Assessment | How will you see whether support works? | When will we talk again? |

These are questions for a meeting, not a list of measures everyone automatically has a right to. Measures must be assessed based on the child’s needs and the school’s responsibility. Ask for a written summary so everyone understands the agreement in the same way.

## What if your child does not feel safe at school?

Tell the school clearly about insecurity, degrading treatment or bullying. The absence meeting must also consider your child’s school environment.

Do not simply say that your child has a lot of absence if they describe specific incidents. Explain what happened, when and who knows about it. Notify the head teacher if the school environment is the problem.

A plan for increased attendance is of little use if the situation making your child feel unsafe continues. Ask the school how it will investigate and handle this. For the separate school-environment process, see [your child’s rights concerning bullying](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/mobbing-i-skolen-norge).

If your child also has health problems, you can contact your GP or the school health service. The school and health service have different tasks. Clarify what information will be shared and whom you should contact next.

## Are there new national rules in 2026?

Udir has been working on a national professional guideline about school absence. When checked on 4 October 2026, the relevant page still indicated that the text was under consultation.

[The consultation proposal about school absence](https://www.udir.no/laring-og-trivsel/forebygge-og-folge-opp-bekymringsfullt-fravar/nasjonal-faglig-retningslinje-om-fravar-hoering/) was presented on 1 June 2026. Proposed specific working methods are not the same as a newly adopted right for all families.

You do not need to wait for a final guideline to ask the school for follow-up. The current duty to follow up and other rules on the school environment and education already apply. Ask the school which rules it uses in your case.

## What do you do if support does not work?

Contact the school again and show concretely what has not been implemented or what does not help. Ask for reassessment and a clearly responsible person.

Compare the agreement with what happened. For example, write that your child arrived but the agreed adult was not there. This gives the school something concrete to change. Ask the head teacher for follow-up if ordinary contact stalls.

SamfunnPrep helps you understand school and other public services. The [tools overview](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) contains aids for more practical steps in life in Norway.

## FAQ

### Must we wait until our child has many absences?

No. The school’s duty to follow up applies from the first day of absence. How much follow-up is needed depends on the situation and cause.

### Is school refusal always the child’s responsibility?

No. Udir describes concerning absence as a sign that something is wrong. Causes are often complex, and the school must cooperate with the family.

### Do new rules in 2026 give us a right to home visits?

This guide does not promise that new right. Udir’s national guideline page still showed a consultation when checked on 4 October 2026. Proposals and current duties must be distinguished.

### Is an absence meeting enough to get help?

A meeting should lead to concrete measures, responsibility and reassessment. Contact the school again if the agreement is not followed or your child is still struggling.

## Sources

- [Plikt til å følge opp fravær](https://www.udir.no/regelverk-og-tilsyn/skole-og-opplaring/plikt-til-a-folge-opp-fravar/)
- [Slik kan skolen forebygge bekymringsfullt fravær](https://www.udir.no/laring-og-trivsel/forebygge-og-folge-opp-bekymringsfullt-fravar/slik-kan-skolen-forebygge-bekymringsfullt-fravar/)
- [Nasjonal faglig retningslinje for forebygging og oppfølging av skolefravær](https://www.udir.no/laring-og-trivsel/forebygge-og-folge-opp-bekymringsfullt-fravar/nasjonal-faglig-retningslinje-om-fravar-hoering/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "School absence: how parents can ask for help", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-05T16:12:16.516+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bekymringsfullt-skolefravaer-foreldre