Commenting on new measures to tackle
persistent absence from school, including an expansion of
Attendance Hubs, Daniel
Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education
Union,
said:
"Good attendance in schools is vitally
important for children and young people's education, and our
members work closely with parents to minimise absences. The
reasons for absences can be complicated and arise from outside
circumstances such as poverty, SEND and mental health issues as
well as a lack of support services for families outside of
schools.
"The proposed extension of the
Attendance Hubs programme, like the behaviour hubs and Mental
Health Support Teams, is rolling out too little too late for many
children and young people. The programme supports only 10% of
schools - nowhere near enough to tackle the extent of the
problems. Similarly, the proposed extension of
the attendance mentoring scheme, piloted in a mere five areas,
will not begin for another nine months. Young people and schools
need support now.
"Effective change requires funding
pastoral teams to work with parents and students to address the
underlying issues for unauthorised absences. It also means
speeding up the referral process for SEND assessment,
diagnosis and support or for increasing Camhs capacity.
These are the issues schools regularly tell us are affecting
student attendance. Yet the government's proposals fail
to provide themeans to address
them.
"For many young people the overloaded
curriculum is not fit for purpose and the exam factories culture
in schools is also driving young people out of education rather
than fostering a love of learning. Government must face up to
these challenges to ensure children and young people get the
education they deserve in a well-funded and supported
environment."
