During the national lockdown period, schools were prioritised to continue providing face to face education for pupils deemed to be in the vulnerable group (those with a social worker, an education, health and care plan, and those deemed vulnerable by the school or local authority). The department strongly encouraged vulnerable pupils to continue attending school for their education and well-being during this period.
The department also advised, however, that attendance for these children, although strongly encouraged, was not mandatory. And, where parents of a vulnerable pupil wanted their child to be absent, schools were advised to grant a leave of absence for the pupil given the exceptional circumstances. All legal penalties associated with absence over this period were disapplied to guarantee that parents were not penalised.
Other pupils who were not eligible to attend school, during restrictions, were recorded as ‘not attending in circumstances relating to coronavirus’. This is because their attendance at school was contrary to public health guidance.
This means that the absence rates for pupils who were prioritised to continue attending school this term will be higher than for those who were not eligible to attend.