Source · Select Committees · Education Committee

Recommendation 14

14 Deferred Paragraph: 77

Department fails to require measurement of attendance return rates from breakfast and holiday clubs.

Conclusion
We welcome the offer of breakfast clubs and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme for pupils with higher levels of disadvantage. This measure can be used to support attendance, and may already be doing so, but there is a lack of evidence as the Department does not require schools or local authorities to measure return rates in school attendance, following attendance at breakfast or holiday clubs.
Government Response Summary
The government's response discussed the link between persistent absence and home education, rather than addressing the recommendation for measuring the impact of breakfast and holiday clubs on school attendance.
Paragraph Reference: 77
Government Response Deferred
HM Government Deferred
15. The Government recognises the linkages between persistent absence and a parental decision to elect to home educate. Some of the most common reasons given for persistent absence are similar to the reasons behind the decision to elect to home educate, such as child mental health difficulties and dissatisfaction with the school.