Responding to new research from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) which shows that lower life satisfaction among pupils is associated with higher school absence, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“The root causes of pupil absence often lie beyond the school gates, as this analysis shows.

“Challenges children face at home, from poverty to mental health issues, inevitably impact their happiness and wellbeing, and it’s no surprise that this can then affect their attendance at school. When they do attend, their ability to focus and flourish in the classroom may be compromised.

“Schools work really hard to nurture an inclusive environment, identify issues affecting pupils, and get them support, but they don’t always have the answers to deeply ingrained social issues.

“These findings show why government policies like parental fines for unauthorised absence and AI-generated attendance targets, are unlikely to get to grips with this issue.

“Attendance mentors in some areas may help, but what is really needed is more funding to ensure children and families get the support they need - not just from schools but from social care, mental health and other community services which have suffered from years of under-investment.

“It will be especially important that the government’s SEND reforms are truly backed by the funding needed to help ensure pupils get the support they need in school, with last year’s small increase in severe absence - where pupils miss more than half of sessions – being fuelled by an increase among pupils with additional needs.”