The Schools White Paper includes plans for an attendance target of more than 94%. In this episode, we talk best practice for reducing pupil absence and consider how primary schools might meet this ambitious goal.

We speak to two experienced school leaders about the initiatives that have worked in their primary schools to improve attendance as well as pitfalls to avoid.

We hear case studies of specific attendance interventions as well as about things that have not worked and the lessons learned.

We consider the attendance challenges schools continue to face post Covid-19 and issues such as term-time holidays and find out what our guests think of the White Paper’s proposed 94% target.

We talk about how we can engage with parents as well as considering how to address specific barriers to attendance such as mental health, SEND and poverty.