Select committee: Education Committee
Recommendation 9
Seventh Report - Persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils
Published 27 Sep 2023
Paragraph 55
Addressed to Department for Education
Education Committee Persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
There is evidence that prior to the pandemic, fines played a role in reducing unauthorised absence. However, it is less clear if they are an effective deterrent for families who are facing some of the current barriers to attendance we have outlined. We heard that fines do not address the barriers that low-income families face and can be counterproductive by adding to difficult financial circumstances (as discussed in chapter 7). Families are struggling with high school costs, and in some cases, fining is not an appropriate, compassionate, or helpful response. It is clear fines and other legal measures have a use in some circumstances, but the Department does not monitor or regulate the use of fines and prosecution and what methods of support have been offered before they are applied. We also heard that they are used inconsistently due to local authority discretion. We understand the Department recognises this and consulted on the use of legal interventions in July 2022, but we are disappointed by the lack of urgency and action from the Department to effect change in its consultation response.
From: Education Committee, Seventh Report - Persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils (HC 970), paragraph 55, 27 September 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 6 December 2023 (deadline 27 November 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government states that it "accepts the majority of the committee's recommendations" and has provided its rationale where it does not accept others.
- On daily attendance data, the Department agrees with the aim of 100% of state-funded schools sharing data and intends to introduce regulations to mandate participation "no sooner than September 2024", subject to continued engagement and "the usual parliamentary procedures".
- The Government agrees the attendance guidance should be made statutory, but says it will legislate "when parliamentary time allows".
- It does not accept ring-fenced funding for local authority attendance work, saying core functions "can and should" be funded through the Central School Services Block, and "cautious" on a national roll-out of attendance mentors pending evaluation of the pilot.
- It does not believe a cross-government assessment of pupil mental health is "necessary at this time", and has "concerns" that a separate mental health absence code is "unhelpful in practice".