A report by a committee of cross-party MPs has raised alarms about the “grossly inadequate” mental health support available for children facing challenges in attending school. The number of children absent from school has more than doubled since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting concerns that high absence levels could become the “new norm,” potentially causing long-term harm to thousands of children.
The report from the Education Select Committee criticizes the government’s response, citing “no significant improvement in the speed and scale” of reducing absence rates. It emphasizes the pressing issue of rising rates of children grappling with mental health challenges as a major concern.
According to the Department for Education, in the academic year 2021/2022, over 1.7 million children were persistently absent from school, defined as missing 10% or more of school days. Approximately 125,000 students spent more time out of class than in.
Education Committee chair Robin Walker MP underscored the need for a “major cross-government review” to address this challenge. He highlighted that since the pandemic, an increasing number of children have cited mental health reasons for their school absences, straining the capacity of the health service to meet the growing demand and leaving schools to fill the gaps.
One school in Cumbria, Furness Academy in Barrow-in-Furness, has taken a proactive approach by conducting specialist mental health sessions for students struggling with school attendance. These sessions, part of a pilot scheme funded by the government in collaboration with Westmorland and Furness Council, Furness Academy, and the charity Family Action, have shown promise in improving attendance and helping students cope with mental health challenges. However, such initiatives remain rare, and education authorities are under immense pressure to address low attendance rates creatively and effectively.
Diane McSharry, education officer at Westmorland and Furness Council, stressed the need to devise innovative ways to support children and families in overcoming barriers to attendance, acknowledging that it is a constant battle that requires unconventional solutions.
