“While it is great news that absence rates are lower overall, and schools deserve great credit for this, there is clearly much more work to do. Of particular concern is the fact that more than 2% of all pupils are now missing at least half their time in school. This rate has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic and now equates to well over 150,000 pupils. These children are missing out on a huge chunk of vital learning and schools need support to help them return to the classroom. This will require investment in attendance support services to help identify the reasons behind these prolonged absences, and to work towards solutions. There also needs to be a better network of support for pupils with mental health issues and special educational needs to ensure they get the help they require before things escalate to the point where attending school becomes very challenging.”