Responding to new figures which show the persistent absence rate among pupils remained above 20% during the 2023 school autumn term, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“These concerning figures underline the need for the government to invest far more in tackling persistent absence and the reasons for it, which may include everything from issues at home, to poverty, mental ill-health and a failure to fund adequate support for many children with special education needs.

“Schools alone do not have the time, resources or expertise to address what are sometimes deep-rooted social issues, yet vital services like children’s social care and mental health support have suffered cuts or failed to keep up with demand over the last decade.

“While the government has finally showed signs that it recognises the need for action with its attendance hubs and pilot mentoring programme, large areas of the country do not benefit from these. We need to see more boots on the ground, with visits to families to get to the bottom of issues with children’s attendance - but crucial local authority roles like education welfare officers have been decimated.

“Ministers need to go further and faster and look at the bigger picture if we are to make real headway in tackling this problem.”