Department for Education Severe Absence Project

This academic year, a select number of local authorities, including Kent, were invited by the DfE to take part in a Severe Absence Project aimed at deepening understanding of the factors that contribute to severe absence and identifying practical approaches that improve attendance for children and families. Throughout the project, KPAS have been working closely with a DfE attendance adviser, along with colleagues across Early Help, Youth Justice, VSK and Social Care to explore the barriers that can prevent regular school attendance and to highlight strategies that have proven successful.

Alongside this collaborative work, we undertook a detailed analysis of the data which will support the sharing of emerging good practice, both with our school partners and other local authorities. The project has strengthened our collective understanding of what makes the greatest impact and will guide how we continue to support attendance moving forward.

As the project concludes, we would like to thank our schools and partners for their ongoing commitment and valuable contributions, which have been central to improving attendance for our most vulnerable pupils.