Make attendance top of the ‘back to school’ checklist for 2024/25

Rates of school attendance have continued to improve in Hampshire but as with other local authority areas across the country, they remain below the levels typically seen before the Covid-19 pandemic. Latest figures show that 93.4 per cent of all possible sessions, recorded at daily registers in both the morning and afternoon, were attended by Hampshire pupils in the 2023/24 school year. This is compared to 95.5 per cent in 2018/19, the last full school year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Promisingly however, Hampshire has maintained its historic trend above the national school attendance rate, which was 92.8 per cent in 2023/24. 

Educational specialists advise that attending school every day, unless unwell, is best for children to ensure that the solid foundations for their future education and employment can be laid. It is also one of the best ways of supporting a child’s mental and physical health. 

Councillor Steve Forster, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “It’s positive to see that school attendance has been improving in Hampshire, and I want to thank our families and school staff for their hard work in helping us to move things in the right direction. However, we still have further to go to get back to where we were before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“As we head into a new academic year, I know that our incredible school staff will continue to support children to experience the educational, social, emotional and mental benefits of being consistently in school. Likewise, our families continue to play a valuable role in prioritising attendance and helping children to foster a positive relationship with school. A concerted effort across both school and home will give children the strongest possible chances to thrive in school, both emotionally and academically. This will be especially important in the first few days back at school, which we know are crucial in setting the tone for the rest of the year.”

There are many wide-ranging benefits of regular school attendance, which can help to improve children’s overall life chances and their long-term wellbeing. As well as supporting children to develop critical social skills and independence for future adulthood, there is a clear link between regular attendance and attainment. Evidence shows that 90 per cent of young people with absence rates below 85 per cent do not go on to achieve five or more good GCSE grades, and around one third achieve no GCSEs at all.

Achieving regular school attendance requires parents and carers, children, and school staff to work together. Staying connected with schools means parents and carers can quickly identify any potential difficulties their child may be facing and understand the support available. Families can take various steps to support school attendance, including:

• creating opportunities for children to talk about their time at school
• staying up to date with all communications from school
• attending school open evenings and functions, and letting the school know if this is not possible due to barriers like work, childcare, transport, or health issues
• checking that children understand and are regularly completing their homework, and speaking with their child’s school if they or their child are encountering issues with completing the homework that has been set
• avoiding school absences where possible – for example, by arranging GP and dental appointments outside of school hours
• building consistent bedtime routines – sleeping well, for the right length of time, helps improve energy levels, mood and concentration
• establishing good morning routines at home to help children arrive at school on time, having had a good breakfast and ready to start the day
• staying alert to signs of distress or challenging behaviours in response to going to school, and reaching out for help as soon as possible if there are any concerns

Councillor Forster added: “We know that in some circumstances, for example for medical reasons or for a small number of children with particular special educational needs, daily school attendance isn’t always possible. Early intervention is key in these situations: we urge any families facing issues with attendance to speak to their child’s school at the earliest opportunity to discuss the support available and to give the best possible chance of resolving challenges before they escalate.”

The County Council’s website provides advice and guidance on school attendance including parental responsibilities; how schools record attendance; and what to do if a child is unwell or expected to be away from school for a long period of time.