Almost 1.8 million children missed at least 10% of school in the autumn term in England according to a study that’s just been released.
The number of children missing at least half of school is also greater than previously thought, at 122,000.
The figures are based on information gathered from 145 councils for the Children’s Commissioner.
Dame Rachel de Souza said urgent action was needed to identify the children most at risk, and the reasons why they miss school.
The investigation follows concerns some pupils have never fully returned to lessons after national lockdowns during the Covid pandemic.
It also found no reliable figures for children who never go to school at all, raising the prospects of a small, but vulnerable group of children who are entirely out of sight, and thus impossible for the authorities to keep safe.
Dame Rachel said in a statement: “I’m extremely concerned, I’m surprised at the size of it.
“I’m worried about children missing education but also safeguarding and helping those who most need to be back at school to be back.”
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