Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Accepted
Paragraph: 141
Inconsistent messaging and shifted parental attitudes increase post-pandemic illness absence rates.
Conclusion
Illness was the primary reason for pupil absence before covid-19 and remains so. But parental attitudes to illness and attendance have shifted and Government messaging has been inconsistent. As a result, the illness absence rate is considerably higher now that it was pre-pandemic.
Government Response Summary
The government detailed its existing ‘Working together to improve attendance’ guidance, which focuses on prevention, early intervention, and legal measures to tackle attendance problems.
Paragraph Reference:
141
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
30. The ‘Working together to improve attendance’ guidance is clear that in most cases, local agencies collaborating to provide ‘support first’ is the right approach to tackle attendance problems. The core focus of the guidance is on prevention and early intervention, particularly for absence with complex causes. The guidance is also clear that there are some situations in which support to improve attendance is not appropriate Government response 7 such as an unauthorised holiday in term time. In these cases, and in circumstances where support is not successful, or is not engaged with, it is right that the law protects a pupil’s right to an education. Here, there is a clear role for the use of legal intervention to secure a pupil’s regular attendance. This includes fixed penalty notices which the guidance says explicitly ‘are intended to prevent the need for court action and should only be used where likely to change parental behaviour’.