Since Covid, the number of children persistently absent from schools (absent for more than 10% of the time or 19 days) across the country is double what it was before Covid, and this is mirrored in our Trust, too. We know we have more children than ever missing school, which we find hugely concerning.

Coming to school should be important, and we want to work with families to reconnect with coming to school regularly.

Our approach

At LAAT, we understand that school absenteeism is a complex issue often tied to broader challenges families face. While we are legally obligated to enforce attendance laws, our focus is on being empathetic, supportive, and proactive in addressing the root causes of poor attendance.

To take meaningful action, we have established the LAAT Absence Working Party, a dedicated team focused on tackling absenteeism across our schools. Together, we have developed a comprehensive plan designed to support families and ensure every child has access to quality education.

What you can expect from us:

• Tailored Curriculums: For pupils feeling overwhelmed, we adapt the curriculum to meet their individual needs, helping them re-engage with their learning.
• Mental Health Support: Additional mental health support is available for students who may be struggling emotionally or psychologically.
• Pastoral Support: Our schools provide pastoral staff to assist children finding it difficult to attend regularly, ensuring they feel valued and supported.
• Family Services: Family workers are available to facilitate access to services that can help address challenges outside of school.
• Reintegration Plans: For children with long-term absences due to illness, we offer phased reintegration plans to ease their transition back to school.
• Early Help Assessments: Pupils are assessed for unmet needs early on, allowing us to address learning challenges and other barriers to attendance promptly.

The Law and Fines

In August 2024, The Government introduced stricter absenteeism laws. If a child misses 10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence in 10 school weeks, these weeks do not need to be consecutive and can span different terms or school years.

This threshold of 10 sessions (5 days) can include any combination of unauthorised absences, including arriving ‘late’, which is considered as one session e.g. a child can meet the threshold if they have had six late and 2 days absent (10 sessions in total). However, the Local Authority can issue a fine before the threshold is met for parents/carers who it is felt are deliberately keeping below the threshold by repeating patterns of non-attendance for their child.

If a second offence happens within 3 years, the fine will rise to £160. Families with children who have persistently poor attendance could be fined up to £2,500 per child and may be expected to attend court.