“It is troubling that, even as absence rates are coming down overall, the percentage of pupils missing at least 50% of their education is rising. We need to focus on helping these pupils overcome the barriers preventing them from being in school on a regular basis. This means investing in attendance services, liaising directly with families to identify the issues at play and then ensuring specialist support is available as soon as required. We’ve got to do more to ensure these pupils receive a complete education and all the benefits this brings.”