The UK government has announced a significant expansion of its attendance mentoring programme, aiming to bring thousands of persistently absent pupils back to school. This initiative, backed by a £15 million investment, seeks to address the alarming rise in school absences since the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, around one in five pupils are missing 10% or more of school, highlighting a pressing issue in the education system.
The expanded programme will provide support to an additional 10,000 children across ten new areas identified as having some of the worst attendance rates. Among the regions benefiting from this expansion are Nottingham, Ipswich, and Blackpool. The initiative builds on the original mentoring scheme, which has been operational since 2022 in five pilot areas. Attendance mentors work one-on-one with persistently absent pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEND) or mental health challenges, to help break down barriers to attendance.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling the “national epidemic” of school absence, stating, “Tackling the national epidemic of school absence is non-negotiable if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity so many young people face.” She highlighted that persistent absence has held back many young people, denying them valuable life chances.
The programme will provide tailored support for pupils over a 12 to 20-week period, with mentors developing specific plans to assist them. These plans may include strategies for managing anxiety, building confidence and self-esteem, establishing consistent home routines, and facilitating access to additional support services.
Etio, a consultancy with a track record in education projects, will oversee the delivery of the new programme. Dr. Gordon Carver, UK Managing Director at Etio, expressed excitement about the project, which aims to improve attendance and build a robust evidence base for effective interventions. The pilot programme has already shown promise in addressing various challenges faced by pupils, including low-level anxiety and complex family situations. Initial evaluations indicated improvements in attendance, wellbeing, and engagement in school.
In a further effort to strengthen the programme, the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has been appointed to conduct a full external evaluation, ensuring the development of a comprehensive understanding of effective attendance strategies.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza welcomed the investment, noting that many children desire to be in school. She recognised that the barriers to attendance are often complex, including unmet mental health needs, family responsibilities, and disengagement from education. “Attendance mentors can be an important part of the solution, by being a trusted person working closely with children and their families,” she stated.
The programme aligns with the government’s statutory guidance, “Working Together to Improve School Attendance,” which advocates a “support first” approach. This guidance aims to work collaboratively with children and their families to address the specific barriers that prevent regular school attendance.
In addition to the mentoring programme, the government is committed to addressing the root causes of absence by providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every secondary school and introducing free breakfast clubs in all primary schools. These initiatives aim to ensure that every child is ready to learn, helping to improve attendance and educational outcomes.
