Education committee transcript: Persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils - May 16

The Education Committee has launched an inquiry into persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils.

This inquiry will focus on the issue of persistent and severe absence in schools, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged pupils. The inquiry aims to examine the issue of persistent and severe absence and the factors causing it and to assess the likely impact and effectiveness of the Department’s proposed reforms on attendance. The inquiry will also assess the impact of interventions such as breakfast clubs, free school meals, holiday clubs, and after school clubs on improving attendance for disadvantaged pupils, and will develop recommendations as to how attendance can be improved, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

Witnesses: Ellie Costello (Director at Square Peg), Vicki Nash (Associate Director of External Relations at Mind), and Dr Daniel Stavrou (Policy Vice Chair at Special Education Consortium)

Witnesses: Pauline Anderson OBE (Chair of Trustees at Traveller Movement), Dr Claudia Sumner (London Advocacy Manager at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)), and Diana Sutton (Director at Bell Foundation)