Just as school plays a vital role in every child’s development and future, missing school has a huge impact, too. Specialists Remi, Gretchen and Uma tell us more – and how they can help

Remi: We are all early help attendance mentors at Islington Council, working with schools to identify pupils whose attendance is starting to dip. Tackling the problem early on can make a big difference, and we want to ensure your child is in school, learning, and thriving.

We mostly work with children on a one-to-one basis in school, but we also support parents to ease their anxiety and improve attendance.

Uma: From the first session with each pupil we’ll try to understand what the challenges are. For some people it could be because of bullying, because they don’t like the teacher or the lesson, or they may struggle with simply waking up in the morning, having a routine, or perhaps mental health issues.

It’s about small steps and understanding what works for each individual. We try to understand what they’re struggling with and will work with the school and parents to address those things in a way that they can personally achieve.

Gretchen: In any other situation at school, 90 percent sounds really positive. But when you break it down, 90 percent is 20 days missed in a year – that’s around a month. It’s really hard to break that habit once it becomes ‘normal’, so it’s important to get in early and shift that mindset.

Going to school every day helps kids achieve academically, but it also helps with soft skills – empathy, sharing, critical thinking, routine-keeping, time management. School is a place that can help prepare a young person for their adult life, for example being on time at work. When you hone those skills at a young age, you’re more capable when you’re older.

If you’re concerned about your child’s attendance, speak to their teacher or the school’s attendance lead and check out our 10 top tips for improving attendance.