KIDS who miss school could get a knock on the door from their teacher under a government attendance drive.
Heads are being told they should organise home visits to parents whose children consistently fail to come into class.
Kids who miss school could get a knock on the door from their teacher under a government attendance drive
Schools have been given guidance to work with councils to offer “targeted family support” where there are “barriers to attending school”.
Government sources stressed it was a “supportive” measure rather than trying to threaten parents.
Home visits can already happen but the government is reminding teachers to be unafraid to conduct them as kids prepare to go back to school this month.
The Department for Education is launching a national attendance dashboard for schools to pinpoint pupils who are dropping off.
Most schools are now sharing data with the government, who send it back in the form of visualised maps to make it easier to spot the truancies.
It is also piloting a one-to-one mentor scheme for pupils who regularly miss school due to issues like bullying and mental health.
Education Secretary James Cleverly said: “All the evidence shows that being in school is vital for helping pupils achieve their potential.
“That is why it is so important for them to attend every day they possibly can.”
