Norfolk teacher says wider work needed to tackle school absenteeism
One in five pupils across the country are currently missing 10% or more of school, according to official figures
A teacher in Norfolk is telling us that greater work and funding is needed to tackle the issues fuelling a rise in student absenteeism, after the pandemic.
One in five pupils across the country are currently missing 10% or more of school, according to official figures.
With the Government now putting £15 million behind the expansion of a programme which aims to provide through one on one support to an extra 10 thousand children affected by this issue.
The original programme, has been running since 2022 in five pilot areas, and helps those with Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or mental ill health to get them back in the classroom.
Pupils on the programme will be supported over a twelve-to-twenty-week period and will have a specific plan to help them, developed by the mentor.
This might include helping pupils to manage anxious feelings, developing their confidence and self-esteem, establishing more consistent routines at home and supporting pupils to access support from wider services.
"We need to be a little bit more flexible in our thinking"
Scott Lyons also works for the 'National Education Union' in Norfolk:
"Members have mentioned to me that they've been asked to make absence and attendance calls regularly, to chase up some pupils to try and get them into the classroom. That's not something they should be doing, they're meant to be making an impact in the classroom.
"We need to make sure that the curriculum is engaging. We need to collectively provide support to families and pupils, such as those who are facing challenges like a family breakdown, poverty, unemployment and the mental health impacts of all this.
"We need to be a little bit more flexible in our thinking around all this. The Covid pandemic showed us that some pupils can work effectively from home".
"For too long persistent absence has held back young people"
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:
“Tackling the national epidemic of school absence is non-negotiable if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity so many young people face.
“For too long persistent absence has held back young people across the country and denied them the life chances that they deserve: this government is gripping this generational challenge facing our schools.
“This significant new investment will help thousands of children back into the classroom and marks an important step towards truly turning the tide on persistent absence, helping us drive high and rising standards in every school.”