According to recently published reports by the Department for Education on pupil absence in primary and secondary schools, the overall absence rate across state-funded primary, secondary & special schools in 2015/16, has stayed the same as in 2014/15, at 4.6 per cent.
School Managers, community leaders, teachers, and parents across the UK have long recognised student absenteeism's damaging effects on student success.
1. Start with early Intervention
The reasons that many students are chronically absent can be addressed through prevention strategies, especially at the primary school level.
2. Nurture family involvement
Often, student absenteeism has roots in out-of-school factors like poverty, family mobility, child care, and safety concerns.
3. Create mentoring programs
Appoint at-risk students a mentor to create trust between students and families, identify problems and limitations, and check in frequently can enormously improve attendance.
4. Use incentives
Incentive programs are often a low-cost, high-impact option for schools, especially in the earlier years.
5. Gather accurate data!
Attendance policy success depends to a high degree on collecting and correctly interpreting well-targeted student attendance data.
