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The government is implementing a new initiative to reduce absenteeism by instructing parents to send their children to school even if they have a runny nose or sore throat.
The initiative “Prioritizing Attendance, Valuing Moments” aims to persuade parents to send their children to school even if they are mildly ill.
In the academic year 2021/2022, approximately 1.6 million secondary school students, which accounts for over a quarter, were categorized as “persistently absent”. This indicates that they were absent for at least 10% of their school sessions.
The Education Department announced that as part of their campaign, 18 additional attendance hubs will be established in six regions. This will bring the total number of hubs to 32, with the goal of assisting approximately 2,000 schools in addressing persistent absence.
The schools that manage the hubs have high attendance rates and collaborate with other primary, secondary, alternative provision, and special schools in England to provide useful strategies for improving attendance.
These websites may offer various programs to support schools, students, and their families, such as breakfast clubs, after-school activities, and projects focused on enhancing their procedures and examining attendance information.
Improving attendance and encouraging students to come back to school has been identified as a primary concern by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza. They believe that attending school is crucial for a child’s future.
The government plans to allocate £15 million over three years to expand the attendance mentor pilot program. This will offer direct and intensive assistance to over 10,000 students who have persistent and severe absenteeism, as well as their families.
Starting in September 2024, the program will have trained attendance mentors in an additional 10 areas. Currently, a pilot program is in progress in Middlesbrough, Doncaster, Knowsley, Salford, and Stoke-on-Trent in partnership with Barnardo’s.
Individualized assistance is provided to students who frequently miss school, in addition to collaborating with their families to determine the reasons for their truancy.
Ms Keegan emphasized that improving attendance is her topmost concern. She believes that giving our children a strong foundation in life is crucial, as attending school plays a significant role in their overall well-being, growth, and academic achievements, and ultimately affects their future career success.
I am extremely thankful for our amazing educators, leaders, and everyone who has collaborated with us to achieve the progress we have made, resulting in 380,000 fewer children being chronically absent.
Ms De Souza emphasized the importance of consistent attendance, stating that when students are absent, they not only miss out on lessons but also miss out on valuable social interactions with their peers and teachers.
The Moments Matter, Attendance Counts initiative provides advice on where parents can seek assistance. A recent letter from health authorities, such as England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, offers guidance on attendance and minor sickness.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, stated that addressing absence should be the top priority as the attendance rates are still a major concern and a significant number of students are not regularly attending school.
He emphasized that schools require more than just advice, stating that over the past ten years, essential support services that used to intervene and address chronic absenteeism have been diminished. He finds it incredibly disappointing that the government is only now starting to recognize the consequences of this.
We must witness a more resolute dedication to reviving those services, ensuring that every family and child in need receives prompt support. This task cannot be accomplished inexpensively.
More information was provided by PA.
Source: independent.co.uk
