National News Stories
New regulations for schools in next stage of attendance drive
Every state school in England will now share their daily attendance registers across the education sector.
Parent fines for unauthorised absences will also be brought under a national framework to help tackle inconsistencies in their use. A fine to parents must be considered if a child misses 5 days of school for unauthorised absence. Alongside this, costs for fines will go up from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days and from £120 to £160 if paid in 28 days which will ensure all parents are aware of when they might face a fine to ensure all councils are issuing fines appropriately.
29 February, 2024 • DfE Press Release
Government to fund school ‘attendance mentors’ in worst-hit areas of England
Latest attempt to tackle pupil absences criticised as failing to tackle the magnitude of the problem
The government is to make a new effort to repair sagging school attendance figures in England, with the education secretary to announce funding for “attendance mentors” in some of the worst-affected areas.
5 January, 2024 •The Guardian
Major national drive to improve school attendance
DfE Press Release
Attendance hubs to more than double to support 1,000 more schools and £15 million investment to expand the attendance mentor pilot programme.
8 January, 2024
Additional Resources
EEF blog: Addressing attendance: Getting below the surface
How to support student attendance
This rapid evidence assessment examines the existing research on interventions that aim to improve pupils’ school attendance and the characteristics of these interventions, based on a systematic search of existing literature.
Blog •3 minutes •10 January, 2024
Statistics & Resources: Pupil attendance in schools
Official Statistics- DfE
Data on the levels of attendance and overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools.
Regularly Updated •Linked resources
Attendance interventions rapid evidence assessment
Rapid evidence assessment on attendance interventions for school-aged pupils
This rapid evidence assessment examines the existing research on interventions that aim to improve pupils’ school attendance and the characteristics of these interventions, based on a systematic search of existing literature.
Published: March 2022