How early intervention can tackle the school absenteeism crisis
Since Covid-19, the number of children missing school has skyrocketed, with around 150,000 students attending less than half of their lessons.
The rise in children missing school is one of the most pressing challenges facing the government today. Yet a new report by the Centre for Young Lives warns that the current approach to tackling absenteeism is too focused on punishment rather than support. It recommends a shift toward early intervention, creating more inclusive and welcoming school environments, and building stronger cross-service partnerships to support students holistically.
Absenteeism is rarely a single-issue problem and is especially common among children in disadvantaged areas, those with special needs as well as students facing mental health challenges. Traditional punitive responses, like fines, are often ineffective and can be particularly damaging for low-income families. The report calls for a new approach: one that recognises each child’s unique challenges and provides support tailored to their needs, prioritising early intervention.
Children who start missing school young are likely to struggle with attendance throughout their education. Persistent absenteeism affects academic performance, as students who miss more school tend to have lower GCSE scores. Worse, it increases the risks of exploitation and harm. Many students say that if they had been given help earlier, they wouldn’t have missed so much school in the first place. Problems often pile up, leaving some children feeling like they’ve missed so much they can’t catch up.
The report suggests viewing schools as community “hubs” where various resources and services can come together to support families holistically. By identifying children at risk early and providing tailored support, schools can keep students engaged and set them up for a brighter future. The report emphasises that creating a sense of belonging and strengthening connections between schools, families and communities is essential for helping all students stay on track.
Crucial to any early-intervention strategy is sincere parent involvement. No matter how inspiring, nurturing, supportive and well-resourced a school might be, it requires a parent to walk their child up to the school gate and nudge them through. The report recommends that schools work closely with parents to create realistic support plans addressing both academic and personal challenges. This is, admittedly, a big ask, especially in a time when budget cuts have significantly reduced access to key services for struggling families. The added responsibility of schools to intervene in complicated family contexts seems unfeasible without a large scale unified effort – a genuine commitment to collaboration from statutory services, non-profits, schools and communities to tackle the deeper issues influencing school attendance.
Kids Matter is one example of this approach in action. Our (free) parenting programmes run in partnership with schools, churches and other family-focused organisations, equipping parents with the tools to build strong relationships with their children so they have a greater chance of thriving in life. Research shows that when parents feel more confident they are more competent and resilient, which has ripple effects… including the possibility of improved school attendance.
Headteacher Fiona Booth shared the positive impact Kids Matter has had in her school:
Our engagement from the parent body at school has increased, sleep routines at home have improved and attendance of children whose parents attended Kids Matter is up.
Read Fiona’s full story here.
Kids Matter doesn’t eliminate poverty but empowers parents to create strong, supportive family environments, even in challenging situations, with long-term impact on children’s wellbeing and future outcomes. To learn more about Kids Matter’s mission to help every child grow up in a strong family, visit kidsmatter.org.uk, and read more about an evidence-based plan to improve school attendance in the Centre for Young Lives’ “A country that works for all children and young people” report.