The Department for Education is addressing persistent pupil absenteeism and children missing education in England, where approximately one in five school-age children miss at least one day per fortnight. The department is considering measures including a national register of out-of-school children, parental notification duties, and improved attendance enforcement, while also examining whether home-to-school transport policy adequately supports attendance.
We are seeking evidence to improve the way children missing education are identified and supported.
We urge the Government to deliver on its commitment to introduce a register of children not in school to be fully operational for the 2024/25 academic year. We therefore expect the Government to include a suitable legislative vehicle in the …
We heard mixed reactions to the guidance working together to improve school attendance. Whilst witnesses agreed guidance on a statutory footing is needed to improve attendance, we heard from a number of witnesses that the guidance in its current form …
The Department should implement statutory guidance to be applicable from September Type: conclusion | Number: 6 | Response status: accepted Government response: The Government issued the guidance ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ in May 2022, and it has been …
The Department should conduct an audit of support provided by local authorities to tackle persistent absence. As part of this, the Department should make an assessment of the impact of providing funding for Education Welfare Officers through schools, compared to …
We recommend the Department instruct schools and local authorities to explore methods of support for pupils and families before the use of fines or prosecution, ensuring that legal intervention is a last resort only. The Department should be more explicit …
Although we heard that attendance mentors do work with families in circumstances when their work with the child exposes a wider set of issues, it is imperative that they conduct this work for all pupils with whole-family support at the …
Given a major driver of low attendance is low income, it follows that measures to tackle child poverty should be considered in the Department’s approach to improving attendance. The Department should make an assessment of the eligibility criteria for Free …
We welcome the offer of breakfast clubs and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme for pupils with higher levels of disadvantage. This measure can be used to support attendance, and may already be doing so, but there is a lack …
We recommend the Department require local authorities to report on school attendance levels for pupils who have attended a breakfast club or holiday club. If a significant impact can be demonstrated, the Government should consider this in future funding decisions. …
We recommend the Department commission research to test the link between sports- based interventions and improved attendance. As part of this, the Department should look to the third sector for effective practice examples. Type: recommendation | Number: 17 | Paragraph: …
As the Centre for Social Justice have recommend, the Department should implement an enrichment guarantee for pupils in school including the use of sport, music, drama and art, looking to the youth sector for best practice. This guarantee should have …
Whilst the SEND and AP improvement plan provides a useful framework for improving outcomes for this group of pupils, it is evident that unmet needs prevails as a very significant barrier to school attendance. Whilst we understand funding pressures, it …
We have seen overwhelming evidence indicating a radical increase in mental health difficulties amongst school pupils since the covid-19 pandemic. With CAMHS waiting lists at all-time highs, and pupils on three-year waiting lists in some parts of the country, it …
The Department should also lead a cross-government assessment of the scale of mental health difficulties amongst pupils, and review the current provision of support available in schools and outside of them. The Government should conclude this review and report its …
Mental health-related absences are not commonly authorised by schools, sometimes due to requirements to provide medical evidence which can often lead to fines or prosecution for families. The introduction of an authorised mental health absence code could eliminate the need …
We are seeking evidence to improve the way children missing education are identified and supported.
We are seeking evidence to improve the way children missing education are identified and supported.
We're seeking views on proposals to improve the consistency of school attendance support and management.
We're seeking views on proposals to improve the consistency of school attendance support and management.
We are seeking views on a local authority registration system for children who do not attend state-funded or registered independent schools.
We're seeking views on proposals to improve the consistency of school attendance support and management.
We are seeking views on a local authority registration system for children who do not attend state-funded or registered independent schools.
We are seeking views on a local authority registration system for children who do not attend state-funded or registered independent schools.