Let's address attendance. Make nurture the norm. And see children safe and #HappyInSchool
Using nurture to tackle the attendance crisis
Tens of thousands of children in England are now regularly missing school. Across the academic year 2022/23, 22.3% of pupils missed 10% or more of their possible sessions, classing them as ‘persistently absent’. The link between attendance and educational outcomes is well understood – but attainment is just one part of the story. Children who are not in education are also at increased risk of violence and exploitation and face potentially dire consequences for their futures. The attendance crisis must be swiftly addressed, or the UK risks a lost generation of children.
Helping pupils to feel safe in school
So what is causing one in five pupils to regularly miss school? For many, there are social, emotional, mental health or wellbeing issues that cause a barrier to attendance. Recent research found that one quarter of children have reported not feeling safe in school, and three children in an average class of 30 have missed school in the last six months as they felt unsafe.
Helping pupils to feel safe in school is key to tackling the attendance crisis. Through a nurturing approach to education, school leaders can create a safe base for pupils to feel #HappyInSchool.
We know from the difference that nurture provision makes, the vital role that understanding and properly supporting children’s wellbeing plays in supporting attendance and enabling children to flourish at school. We’re calling on policymakers to make nurture the norm and tackle the attendance crisis by supporting children to be #HappyInSchool, ready to learn and achieve their potential.
Our four-step plan
Assess
All schools should be required, and properly supported, to regularly assess all children's SEMH needs in order to track progress and better tailor support.
Explain
Government attendance guidance should:
Be clear about the vital role played by whole-school cultures that prioritise wellbeing.
Specify that adults supporting pupils with poor attendance must refer to a child's personal SEMH assessment to understand barriers and identify appropriate and child-centred strategies to help improve their attendance.
Support
All schools should use nurture practice (defined by adhering to the Six Principles of Nurture) to support pupils' wellbeing and behaviour in schools.
Research
Further research and evaluation should be commissioned to expand and deepen our knowledge of the impact nurture makes on pupil wellbeing, behaviour, attendance and reduced exclusions.