Responding to new figures which show that pupil absence stood at 7.4% during the 2023/24 school year - down from 7.4% last year, but still higher than the 4.7% rate in 2018/19, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“School is vital for children’s learning and development, and also their safety. School leaders and their staff work incredibly hard to increase attendance, and it is encouraging to see these figures have improved on last year, but there is clearly still a long way to go.

“Schools cannot fix this problem alone – the challenges require solutions that stretch beyond the school gates, with the reasons for pupil absence ranging from routine illnesses to persistent mental health problems, poverty and other social challenges facing children and their families.

“Previous governments failed to invest anything like enough in vital services like social care and CAMHS, and key roles like education welfare officers who worked directly with families to support attendance, were cut.

“Many school leaders will be relieved that the new government is promising to better join up services - however, this must just be the start of concerted action to tackle pupil absence, and we stand ready to support ministers in this mission.”