School absentees 'failed' by system, says Ofsted

The schools' inspection body has said that inadequate support for children missing school is compounding the disadvantages they face through social exclusion.

The report 'Out of School: A survey of the educational support and provision for pupils not in school', published on Friday by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) found that of the ten authorities surveyed, too many children are still in danger of being 'lost' to the system, becoming disaffected and underachieving. It concluded that the targeting, monitoring and quality of provision for these children, their low attainment, and the tracking of their progress are all inadequate.

Over 9,000 pupils are permanently excluded from school each year, and up to 10,000 are 'missing' completely, according to government figures. Absences, authorised and unauthorised, from school account for approximately 9% of the total school days each year.

HM Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell, said: "The level of support being offered to children missing from school is unacceptable, and is reinforcing the disadvantages they already face through social exclusion. Local education authorities must do more if we are to prevent even more children becoming disaffected and being lost from the system."

The report noted that schools and local education authorities are not tracking children’s whereabouts, achievements or destinations. Furthermore, lack of agreement between schools and across local authority boundaries was impeding progress. Though the collection of data had improved, analysis of this data is insufficiently detailed.

However, inspectors found pockets of exemplary practice and the report has used these as a guide to improvement. Liaison between services was described as "particularly well developed" in relation to looked after children, and young people attending some alternative centres of education for reasons of disaffection or exclusion are positive about the support they receive. Child employment monitoring and truancy sweeps coupled with fast track prosecution were found to be making a significant impact in some areas.

Inspectors concluded that there must be better sharing of information; improved integration of planning, delivery and service expectation. Clearer accountability and targeting, and better evaluation and dissemination of good practice was also recommended.

Better news was contained in Ofsted’s evaluation of 'The Children’s Fund: The second wave partnerships'. Also published today, this concluded that local partnerships of statutory and voluntary bodies working to combat social exclusion and the effects of child poverty are providing satisfactory outcomes for children.

(SP/MB)