Commenting as the government today announce new attendance hubs and mentors alongside a campaign aimed at reducing persistent absence, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“Government is right to prioritise tackling this issue. The data on attendance remains a real concern and too many pupils are still not attending school on a regular or frequent basis. Poor attendance has a negative impact on pupil outcomes and so intensive and urgent action is clearly required.

“But, whilst there is nothing wrong with the expansion of attendance hubs, schools need more than advice. Over the last decade we have seen the crucial support services that used to step in and tackle persistent absence eroded and it is immensely frustrating that the government is only now slowly beginning to realise the impact that has had.

“What we need to see is a much stronger commitment to restoring those services so that every family and child that needs support gets it quickly. This cannot be done on the cheap.”