Responding to a new report on how best to tackle pupil absence from school from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“These findings echo what school leaders tell us about the severe limitations of parental fines in improving pupil attendance.

“Absence most often reflects issues beyond the school gate, like mental health challenges and poverty, and clearly identifying and being able to support families to address these issues is far more effective.

“Schools alone are not equipped to do this, however, and funding pressures have meant some cannot afford to continue employing enough staff to undertake crucial pastoral, supportive roles.

“What is needed is not just more investment in schools, including for the government’s welcome promised extension of mental health support, but also in stretched community services like social care and children’s mental health which have been underfunded for too long.

“If the link between absence and term-time holidays is to be broken, the only sustainable solution is government action to prevent travel firms unfairly hiking prices during school holidays.”