Analysis of data in Cheshire West and Chester Council shows that in September to December 2020, following the return to school after the national lockdown, the number of children who were persistently absent rose by a quarter compared with the same period in the previous three years.
The council’s analysis of a group of schools found that persistent absence, excluding those linked to Covid-19, increased from 13 to 16 per cent in 2020, according to its report It’s Time To ACT: countering the impact of Covid-19 on pupils and schools.
These absences were disproportionately prevalent among disadvantaged pupils in secondary schools. Nearly two thirds (61 per cent) of persistently absent pupils were found to be eligible for free school meals, have experienced contact with children’s services or have a special educational need or disability.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
