Back to School

Last year, the national school absence rate stood at 7.5%, compared to 4.7% pre-pandemic which has prompted the Children’s Commissioner for England to make understanding the barriers that children face in attending school one of her top priorities. 

Evidence from a recent Children’s Commissioner report showed that children who miss days 2, 3 and 4 of the new term for unauthorised reasons had a higher predicted overall absence rate of almost 45%, the equivalent of 31 days across the term, compared to their peers.

Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education at Worcestershire County Council, Councillor Tracey Onslow said: “Regular attendance provides an environment for children to develop social skills, build friendships, and learn essential life lessons through interaction with classmates and teachers.

“Of course, some situations may require authorised absences. In these cases, whether due to illness, specific bespoke needs or other exceptional circumstances, we encourage parents and carers to work with the school to arrange the necessary support and reasonable adjustments.

“We appreciate that some pupils may find it harder than others to attend school which is why we’re working closely with education settings to support pupils and parents and, where possible, help remove any barriers to attendance.”

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, commented: “Last term, I raised the challenges of rising absenteeism with the Department for Education following some clear feedback on local challenges from Worcestershire Children First.

“Getting into the habit of going to school is essential so I welcome these efforts by the local authority to encourage every child to make a fresh start with the new academic year.

“Where parents have specific issues, I encourage them to come forward and share their concerns with their school, but I hope that this year we will see lower rates of absenteeism across Worcestershire.”

The Department for Education have advised any parent/carer whose child is struggling to attend because of an issue in school or at home to talk to their child’s school in the first instance. Schools will work with parents/carers to help children overcome the issues and access the support needed. Parents/carers should still do everything they can to work in partnership with schools to help their child attend as much as possible whilst waiting for any help and support to be put into place.

Some situations may require authorised absences. In these cases, whether due to illness, specific bespoke needs or other exceptional circumstances, parents and carers are encouraged to work with the school to arrange the necessary support and reasonable adjustments.

Some children may experience anxiety or worry, especially during transitions or the start of a new school year. If any anxieties persist and affect attendance it is important to have a conversation with your child’s school to explore potential solutions. Young Minds offers helpful advice on addressing these concerns and obtaining appropriate support if needed.

A short guide to help parents to support their children to attend school and get the right support is available to download from the Children’s Commissioner’s website.