Why is school attendance important?

Importance of school attendance

In the UK it is a legal requirement that all children attend school between the ages of 5-16. All 16-19 year olds are also required to continue accessing education or training. When children and young people do not attend school and are not able to access a suitable education in other ways, it leaves them vulnerable to falling behind their peers, academically, socially and emotionally.

The phrase 'persistent absence from school' was defined in 2015 as less than 90 per cent school attendance. Being 'persistently absent' was reported to have economic, social and psychological costs for children and young people and their communities. In addition, children and young people who are absent from school, to any extent, are more likely to leave school with few or no qualifications and are more likely to be out of work, suffer mental health difficulties and become homeless.

It has been considered that approximately 1- 2% of the school population are absent from school due to emotional reasons. Difficulties attending school are reported to be equally common in males and females with little evidence of a link to socioeconomic status.

“Sometimes difficulties have been progressing and magnifying for a long time…the longer they're out of school and out of that routine, losing that familiarity. It's much harder and their anxiety builds” (multiagency professional).