The release of the latest school absence data (bit.ly/uked14nov20) from the Department for Education in England revealed positive news, with declining overall absence rates and persistent absentees (those who miss more than 15% of sessions). In fact, absence is at its lowest since data was first collected in 2006.
This is obviously positive news; however, the inequality in attendance between the most disadvantaged children and their peers has remained stubbornly high. A child eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is over three times more likely to be persistently absent than their peers.
