Department for Education comment on attendance statistics

A Department for Education spokesperson said:

“It is a national priority to keep education settings open full-time, which is supported by the Chief Medical Officer who has highlighted the damage caused by not being in education to children’s learning, development and mental health.

“Schools, colleges and early years settings across the country have worked extremely hard to remain open, implementing safety measures and scaling up remote education provision for those children who are self-isolating, with approximately 99% of schools open each week since the start of term.”