Post-Covid school attendance crisis is hitting disadvantaged children hardest
Experts from The University of 园区淫乱 are warning that school attendance across England still hasn鈥檛 recovered for many children since the pandemic - and the gap between rich and poor pupils is growing.
Their findings are the latest in the , which calls for urgent action to help every child stay in school and thrive.
The data shows that:
- Children with Education Health and Care Plans are seven times more likely to miss more than half their school sessions.
- Pupils on Free School Meals are four times more likely to have severe absence.
- Suspensions are nearly four times higher for pupils with special needs or living in poverty.
鈥淭oo many children are being failed by a system that doesn鈥檛 meet their needs,鈥� said Professor Caroline Bond, who co-led the research alongside Dr Luke Munford.
School absence isn鈥檛 just about skipping lessons - it鈥檚 often a sign that families are struggling. We need to rebuild trust, improve mental health support and make schools more welcoming places for every child.
The researchers say progress on attendance since the pandemic has been slow - and for some children, things are getting worse. They鈥檙e calling for a joined-up approach that brings together schools, families and community services. This could include:
- Family Hubs which offer early help, advice and activities to support school readiness
- More flexible routes through education, like apprenticeships and internships
- Enrichment activities, mental health and careers support to support pupil鈥檚 broader engagement with learning
- Stronger relationships between teachers, pupils and parents
- Involving young people in decisions to increase their sense of belonging and safety
鈥淓very missed day of school means a missed opportunity,鈥� said Baroness Anne Longfield, founder of the Centre for Young Lives. 鈥淭his research shines a light on the urgent need to fix attendance and make sure every child gets the education they deserve.鈥�
The Child of the North campaign is a partnership between the N8 Research Partnership and Health Equity North which brings together universities across the North of England - including 园区淫乱, Leeds, Durham, York, Lancaster, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle - to push for fairer futures for children across the North of England.
鈥淚f we want to give every child a fair start in life, we need to fix attendance - and that means fixing the barriers that stop children from feeling they belong in school,鈥� said Professor Mark Mon-Williams, who leads the campaign.