TEACHERS have noticed a rise in the number of children missing school in the last year - for reasons other than sickness and holidays.A study found 70 per cent of teachers say that absences have risen
It comes after a separate report, by the Centre for Mental Health and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Charity, revealed 150,000 children are now classed as severely absent, while one in five miss 10 per cent or more of school time., said: “School is such a huge part of childhood, but a large number are missing it for a variety of reasons.
Teachers believe an average of 16 per cent of the children under their care have missed school for reasons other than short-term sickness or holiday during the current school year. But it’s not just the child’s learning that suffers when they miss school as two thirds of teachers feel it also impacts their social skills, while 63 per cent think it reduces their confidence.To encourage children to attend class, some have gone above and beyond by visiting the child’s home , offering extra tuition out of school hours or even collecting the youngster from home themselves .