Significant Student Absence Levels Reported in Bristol

Ofsted reports that nearly a quarter of Bristol’s children are persistently absent from school. Figures released on Thursday indicate that 23.5% of students are missing at least 10% of their scheduled school hours, a situation experts believe stems from the lasting impact of the Covid lockdowns. James McNeillie, Ofsted’s regional director for the South West, also cited an increase in children experiencing poor mental health as a contributing factor to the substantial number of students regularly missing school. A spokesperson for Bristol City Council commented: “We recognise that improving attendance is a priority for both academic achievement and keeping children safe.” Bristol currently has the sixth highest rate of persistent absence nationwide. This year’s figure of 23.5% marks a reduction compared to last year’s rate, which stood at 27.4%. Nationally, the average proportion of children missing a day every fortnight or more frequently was 19% over the past school year. This contrasts sharply with the pre-pandemic figure of just 11% in 2018/2019. For Somerset and North Somerset, the absence figures were also above the national average, recorded at 21% and 20% respectively during the most recent school year. Speaking to BBC West, Mr McNeillie cautioned that persistent absence deprives children not only of a good education but also of the chance to develop social skills. He asserted that lockdowns had damaged the “sense of social contract” that children must go to school every single day they are well enough to do so. He elaborated: “Not being in school means they are not getting access to good quality education,” adding, “The other aspect they are missing out on is that personal development – their ability to socialise, to make friends, to understand how to work with people and build resilience.” Mr McNeillie further noted that consistent absences lead to “an increase in vulnerability” as teachers are unable to monitor children’s welfare. He suggested that multi-partnership collaboration among schools, parents, and health and social care professionals was the most effective method to re-engage children in school, but many local authorities were struggling to meet the demand. Bristol City Council stated it is collaborating with trusts and schools to improve the situation and recently hosted a Bristol Attendance Conference, which saw participation from 130 schools and was described as marking “a significant step forward in tackling this issue.” The council further affirmed: “Building on this momentum, we will maintain our focus on leveraging data, sharing best practices, and strengthening partnerships. Our commitment remains steadfast to supporting high levels of attendance across all schools and we are ensuring timely assistance and meaningful engagement with families to address their needs.” The increasing number of children diagnosed with special educational needs and disability (SEND) was also creating challenges for schools, which often lack the necessary resources to support them. Elsewhere in the region, it emerged that certain areas of Somerset face a severe shortage of early years childcare provisions, such as nurseries and childminders. The area had an average of just 20.2 full-time places in regulated settings per 100 eligible children, compared to 30 and 31 places in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Mr McNeillie attributed the difficulty for providers to establish themselves in appropriate locations to Somerset’s predominantly rural nature. This rurality also presents challenges for providers in recruiting and retaining high-quality staff. He commented: “We know the best start in life for children is about being safe, being happy and setting that really positive experience of learning and development.” Heather Shearer, lead member for children, families and education at Somerset Council, stated that the council is diligently working to create more childcare places. She added: “We want to try and target our efforts in areas where we know there is a need.” The council is assisting primary schools in opening nursery classes under the government’s school-based nursery scheme and is also offering capital grants to private providers. Ms Shearer concluded by stating: “It may be a cliche but children are our future.” Readers can follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.