Recommendation 18

The provision of enrichment activities available for pupils has declined in recent years, with £1 billion less spent on youth services than a decade ago. We heard sports-based activities provided by third sector organisations is just one example of enrichment that has been used as an intervention to improve school attendance. We welcome the £500 million pledged by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport towards a National Youth Guarantee, and the Minister for School’s focus on music education. But more should be done to promote an overall enrichment guarantee for pupils in school, to then in turn, improve school attendance. (Paragraph 97) Persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils 65