School Attendance: Why Are So Many Children Still Missing From the Classroom?

School attendance continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing education in England.

A pupil is recorded as persistently absent when they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions. Attendance data is published by the Department for Education through the academic year, so the national picture is updated as each term is counted.

There will, of course, always be some avoidable absence, including unauthorised holidays and occasions where children could reasonably have been in school.

But that is not the whole story.

For some young people, poor attendance can be the first visible sign that something else is going wrong.

They may be struggling academically. They may have unmet special educational needs. They may be experiencing bullying, difficulties with friendships, anxiety around school or challenges at home. For others, the traditional school environment simply isn't working for them.

This doesn't mean that attendance doesn't matter. It absolutely does.

Every day away from education can make returning that little bit harder. Missed lessons become gaps in knowledge, gaps can become anxiety, and anxiety can lead to further absence. Before long, a young person can feel so far behind or disconnected from school that returning feels almost impossible.

There has understandably been a renewed national focus on attendance, including fines and other measures aimed at reducing unauthorised absence.

Accountability has its place. Parents and carers have a responsibility to ensure that children receive an education.

But we also need to be careful that the conversation doesn't become simply: "How do we get this child back into school?"

Sometimes the more useful question is: "Why has this child stopped attending in the first place?"

If we don't understand the reason, we are unlikely to find a lasting solution.

Children are far more likely to engage with education when they feel safe, successful and that they belong.

For some young people, that may mean additional support within their mainstream school. For others, mentoring, smaller teaching groups, personalised learning or alternative provision may provide the bridge they need to reconnect with education.

Success should ultimately mean helping a young person move forward, academically, socially and emotionally.

As we begin another academic year, attendance will rightly remain high on the agenda for schools, parents and government.

But perhaps alongside asking how we improve attendance figures, we also need to keep asking a more important question:

What needs to change so that our young people want, and feel able, to engage with education again?

If a young person you support has stopped attending, or is close to it, the earliest conversations are usually the most useful ones. Whether you are a parent, a school or a Local Authority, our team is happy to talk through what re-engagement could look like, with no commitment attached.

Call 0800 888 6221 or email clientsupport@youngeducation.co.uk.

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