Number of children missing secondary school up by around a third in East Yorkshire

Nationally in England there's almost 9 hundred thousand skipped classes

Number of children missing secondary school up by around a third in East Yorkshire
Author: Andy MarshPublished 10th May 2023

Figures show the number of schoolchildren missing classes in East Yorkshire rose by around a third during the last academic year.

Across the country nearly 900 thousand secondary school youngsters were absent

Mental health issues was one of the top reasons children were staying away.

We spoke to Hugh Viney from the "Class of 10 thousand campaign" which is now urging the Government to think of new ways to get children them back into education.

It shouldn't be just "one size fits all"

He told us: "For many of the children that require an alternative anything right now is better than going to school, they are miserable, they are anxious."

"Anything to get them back to feeling good about themselves is good."

"It shouldn't just be one size fits all, that child has to go to that school down the road."

"There are alternatives out there already but the Government needs to recognise them, so we can use them to help these children who are suffering or missing school."

"Just fining families for just missing school is not addressing the problem."

Schools are not equipped to deal with children with severe mental health issues

"Traditional school does not suit a significant minority of children and there should be alternative forms of education that the Government supports."

"The majority of these are for mental health reasons particularly anxiety."

"There's no way we're blaming the schools - they have enough problems."

"They're not equipped to deal with children with severe mental health issues."

The Department of Education told us it is offering targeted help for children who are regularly absent and we've contacted East Riding of Yorkshire council for a reply.

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