Government launches education alliance to drive up school attendance

Members of the alliance, which include Ofsted’s chief inspector and the children’s commissioner for England, met with the minister to pledge their efforts to help reverse a trend which has seen persistent absence increase during the pandemic.

Figures released by the Department for Education show absence rates - which do not include non-attendance due to Covid-19 - increased to 16.3 per cent in secondary schools in autumn 2020, compared with 15 per cent in 2019.

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Zahawi said while recent trends in attendance had been largely driven by Covid-19, which fell outside the scope of the alliance, the government was determined to address the underlying causes of too many children not being in school.

At the first meeting of the alliance last week, he heard members issue a joint call to professionals across education, health and social care to work together to break down barriers that could affect school attendance.

Good attendance at school is essential for children’s development and wellbeing.

Our Attendance Action Alliance will bring national leaders together to support children being in school and improve attendance.

For more information:https://t.co/9S01a54DZ4 pic.twitter.com/uXcxlY5MZl

— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) December 9, 2021

Issues such as mental health problems, bullying or anxiety exacerbated by the pandemic were all factors that contributed to persistent absence rates, Zahawi said.

The alliance would bring together a range of individuals and organisations with the power and expertise to effect change across a full spectrum of issues, he added.

Members set out a number of pledges specific to their own sector to help drive up attendance rates and share best practice.

Chief social worker for children and families Isabelle Trowler said she would work with social work leaders and local authorities that had seen particular success improving attendance rates.

Meanwhile, domestic violence charity SOLACE and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services said they would aim to better understand how the best results could be achieved when multiple organisations combined their efforts to tackle persistent disengagement from school.

Furthermore, the Northern Education Trust and Confederation of School Trusts, supported by leaders of special schools and alternative provision, said a working group of trust leaders would be convened to identify best practice in helping children to attend school regularly.

Members also analysed DfE data that revealed persistent absence could vary significantly across single areas, with some neighbouring local authorities experiencing different rates to each other.

De Souza later announced she would launch an investigation into children missing from education in 10 areas across England.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, presented to the meeting her draft findings of a review into best practice by schools, due to be published in the new year.

Spielman said while specific approaches taken by schools differed, they tended to have a number of features in common.

These include listening to children’s concerns, showing understanding and empathy, and providing support while at the same time consistently challenging unauthorised absence.

“Children only get one chance at school and we know nothing beats being in a classroom, in front of a teacher.

“It’s so important, after so much disruption for this generation, to make sure every child who can attend school, does attend school,” she said.

The alliance, which also includes representatives from the police and NSPCC, is expected to meet monthly for the rest of the academic year.

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC’s chief executive, said schools played a crucial role in supporting children’s wellbeing and keeping them safe but the pandemic had affected regular attendance rates.

“The attendance alliance will help address barriers to attendance and I look forward to engaging with others in the sector to highlight why having children in school regularly is such a top priority,” he said.