New crackdown on kids skipping college as Zahawi says attendance ‘non-negotiable’

A brand new “strict strategy” to kids skipping college within the wake of the Covid pandemic is ready to be introduced by the federal government.

Training secretary Nadhim Zahawi will demand faculties crack down on absenteeism by producing plans on how they’re coping with the difficulty, the Day by day Telegraph reported.

Writing within the newspaper, he mentioned kids attending classes is “non-negotiable” as the federal government strikes away from the present blanket strategy to fining mother and father.

Colleges in England must produce plans now they’re working at full capability as soon as once more post-Covid, together with new central steerage on issuing fines.

Mr Zahawi wrote: “There’s little doubt in my thoughts that being in class is essential to a baby’s studying and improvement. So we wish faculties to have an attendance coverage that units clear expectations for workers, pupils and oldsters alike.

“If kids are routinely absent from college, it’s going to do incalculable hurt to their life possibilities. Having a strict strategy, the place attendance is just non-negotiable, will assist faculties to cope with absenteeism when it arises.”

It’s understood that driving up college attendance has been one of many training secretary’s principal targets since he took over the division in September. The plans will likely be set out within the new Colleges Invoice, anticipated to be laid earlier than parliament on Thursday.

A Division for Training supply instructed the Telegraph: “The explanation for fining mother and father is to not punish them financially – it’s to get youngsters into college.

“If that blanket strategy isn’t resulting in attendance rising, it’s proper to take a look at different methods to get kids again within the classroom in addition to fines. We’re taking a zero tolerance strategy to absenteeism.”

The variety of fines issued to oldsters has fallen in latest months, with new requirements to be issued on how councils are in a position to difficulty them.

The typical wonderful given to oldsters is round £60. Fines will likely be issued on a case-by-case foundation in future, somewhat than the present automated ‘blanket’ strategy.