REVEALED: How many Dorset children missed school due to Covid before Christmas
Figures give a snapshot of pupil absences
Department for Education figures have shown that on one day before the Christmas holidays, at least 820 children were absent from school because of Covid.
That works out as 3.2% of all the pupils in schools that responded to the survey on absences on 16th December 2021.
Of the 823 pupils affected, 671 (82%) were off school due to a confirmed or suspected case of the virus.
10 were isolating in line with Government guidelines, and 142 were isolating for other reasons.
Nationally. 3.7% of school pupils were absent on that day for Covid related reasons - the highest number since the start of the academic year in September.
Thinktank, the Education Policy Institute believes the absentee rate is a continuing concern, as a reduced attendance at school is linked with a greater learning loss.
Natalie Perera, chief executive of the EPI, said:
“Our research has shown an association between pupil absence and higher learning losses, so the high rate of pupils out of school continues to be a concern.
“The Government must closely follow pupil absences this term and consider whether additional financial support to help pupils avoid further learning losses is needed.”
WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS?
The same set of figures also show that across Dorset's schools 1.9% of teaching staff were off on December 16th due to Covid.
That's slightly down on the 2.2% of the county's teachers affected the previous week, which was the highest proportion of the pandemic so far.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said:
“School staff are working tirelessly to ensure classrooms are safe, and it is thanks to their efforts that 99.9% of schools are open once again and millions of pupils have returned to face-to-face learning after the Christmas break.
“We are supporting schools through encouraging former teachers to come back to classrooms and extending the Covid workforce fund for schools that are facing the greatest staffing and funding pressures.”