Nottingham has one of worst school attendance rates as new crackdown launched

Nottingham is one of ten areas that will benefit from new funding to tackle those persistently absent from school

Nottingham has one of the worst school attendance rates in the country amid a new project to support those who are persistently missing education. The city has been chosen as one of 10 areas that will benefit from a £15 million government fund to get those missing 10% or more of school back into the classroom.

The most recent Department for Education (DfE) figures available show that the school absence rate in Nottingham is 7.3%, higher than the East Midlands and national average of 6.7%. Even the national average is higher than pre-pandemic absence levels, which were usually around 5%, but Nottingham's result puts it among the worst in the country.

The government funding will pay for 'attendance mentors' to provide one to one support for persistently absent pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and mental health issues. Pupils will be supported over a 12 to 20 week period, with their mentor developing a tailored plan to get them back into the classroom.

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The attendance monitoring programme has been running since 2022 in areas including Salford and Doncaster, with the expansion set to take effect from March 2025. Walsall, West Somerset, Ipswich, Hastings and Portsmouth are among the other areas selected to join the expanded programme.

Schools in areas where the programme is taking place will be contacted shortly to express their interest in getting involved. A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: "Nottingham is already working in partnership with the DfE, and city schools and academies to improve the attendance of pupils with persistent absence, mental health issues and anxiety as a priority. This additional investment in the city is welcomed."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "Tackling the national epidemic of school absence is non-negotiable if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity so many young people face. For too long, persistent absence has held back young people across the country and denied them the life chances that they deserve: this government is gripping this generational challenge facing our schools.

"This significant new investment will help thousands of children back into the classroom and marks an important step towards truly turning the tide on persistent absence, helping us drive high and rising standards in every school." The government says introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school are among the ways it will tackle the "root causes" of absence.