Commenting as the government announces new school attendance targets, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 

“The reality is that schools are already working tirelessly to improve attendance, with many going way above and beyond what should be expected of schools every single day.

“The government issuing them with yet more targets will not help them with that work and is the wrong way to go.

“Instead of issuing targets from Whitehall, the government’s focus should be on providing the practical resources and support that genuinely make a difference – as well as investing in community services providing vital help for families with challenges in their lives which impact their children’s school attendance.”