Tackling risk factors such as poor mental health in early years is among “the most effective preventive measures” that can be taken to tackle poor attendance.
But a report by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition and the Centre for Mental Health warns there “has been a significant lack of action” by government in this area.
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Instead, ministers are introducing stricter rules around fines for parents of absent children, while enacting “substantial cuts to preventative support”.
The coalition and centre’s report warns that public health spending per person has been slashed by a quarter over the last nine years, which has led to reductions in emotional wellbeing support for young children and cuts to school nurse and health visitor numbers.
They are calling on the Department for Education to “develop a fully resourced, national implementation programme to support every school, college and university” to improve young people’s mental health and improve attendance.
In addition, the government is being called on to commit to a UK-wide roll out of mental health support teams across all schools and colleges. The teams are only set to be available to half of schools and colleges in England by March next year.
Action is also needed to tackle other root causes of absenteeism, including racism, bullying and poor housing.
Without tackling these and improving children’s mental health, government efforts to combat absenteeism “will be ineffective”, the report warns.
“Groups of children and young people, such as those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those living in poverty, those experience bullying or racism, young carers and care experienced children, can be disproportionately impacted by both school absence and mental health problems,” said the coalition.
“While some current government initiatives have been impactful on an individual pupil or family basis many of the approaches fail to adequately account for the wider determinants of school absence."
Today, alongside @CentreforMH we published a new report exploring the mental health barriers to school attendance https://t.co/7xPkAhQ6Wl 🧵 #NotInSchool pic.twitter.com/4KEinhrNtY
— Children & Young People's Mental Health Coalition (@CYPMentalHealth) April 24, 2024
The Department of Health and Social Care is being called on in the report to “prioritise family approaches to support and implement comprehensive support for families, including evidence-based parenting programmes”.
This is backed by Matt Buttery, chief executive of the Triple P parenting programme in the UK who said he “fully” agrees with further investment in such support.
Other recommendations include action to tackle racism and discrimination faced by children and to better support for young carers, another group at risk of missing school.
DfE should also provide practical support to schools and councils to support children with SEND.
“Through tackling the underlying causes and systematic challenges, the barrier which drive school absence can be managed,” states the coalition and Centre’s report.
“Without providing the necessary support, or tackling the social determinants and drivers, the attendance crisis cannot be tackled.”
Charity family action backed the report’s message to ministers “that there are numerous barriers” to school attendance.
“The focus needs to be on the unique situations for each family,” it adds.
