Summary
The number of students in England missing more than half of their school days has reached a new high. This increase is mainly due to more students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) being absent. While overall attendance has improved for most students, children with SEND still face significant challenges.
Key Facts
- Record high of students in England missing more than half of their school time.
- Increase largely due to more students with SEND being severely absent.
- Department for Education (DfE) reports general attendance improvements, but challenges remain for SEND students.
- A case study highlights a child recovering from leukaemia struggling to return to school.
- Approximately 279,000 children missed 20% of school due to illness in 2023/24.
- DfE notes improvements in overall school attendance rates post-Covid pandemic.
- Over 5,000 more students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) missed half or more of their schooling in 2024/25 than the previous year.
