New campaign hopes to boost attendance in Dorset's schools
Absences in the county's schools have risen steadily in recent years
A new campaign hoping to tackle rising absences in Dorset's schools has been launched.
'In This Together' will see Dorset Council engage directly with families who are identified as requiring further support in encouraging their children to attend school.
It's as data from the Council showed absences rose to 8%, which is above the national average, in the Autumn and Spring term of 2022-23.
It also showed absences were higher in primary than secondary schools.
The Council say there's a direct link between how often children attend school and the grades they achieve, as well as a positive impact on their well-being through chances to make friends and try new activities.
Amanda Davis, Director of Education and Learning, said:
"We know some families have experienced all sorts of challenges and that each child has a unique set of circumstances that might get in the way of regular attendance in education. It's important to know you're not alone.
"We have support systems in place, and there are charities and community groups ready to help too."
Dorset Council suggests that if families are worried about school attendance, they should start by talking to their child's school.
If concerns persist, families can contact their Locality Inclusion Team, which has a lot of knowledge and information to help-out.
Cllr Byron Quayle, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, and Early Help, said:
"School attendance is a huge priority to us, and we’d love to see a significant improvement in the next couple of years.”
“Our hope is that by working together, we can see more children able to access school and other education settings more easily.”