Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Deferred
Promote an overall enrichment guarantee for pupils in school to improve attendance.
Conclusion
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
Government Response Summary
The government deflects the recommendation regarding an enrichment guarantee by discussing existing guidance, ‘Working together to improve school attendance,’ issued in May 2022, which focuses on a 'support first' ethos and attendance expectations.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
18. The Government issued the guidance ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ in May 2022, and it has been widely welcomed both for the ‘support first’ ethos it promotes and the clearer expectations it sets out. It reflects best practice already in place across the system and was formulated following extensive informal consultation and joint working with the sector and with stakeholders representing pupils and families, including many of those who provided evidence to this inquiry. It was also subject to a formal consultation which ran for five weeks in January and February 2022.