Labour unveils plan to tackle persistent school absences as 937 children in Stockport set to miss half their lessons by 2026

This month, Labour unveiled its long-term plan to tackle persistent school absence and drive high and rising standards in education.

Levels of persistent school absence in Stockport have increased by 130% in the last five years. More than one in four parents think school isn’t essential every day, while over 10,000 children are on track to miss school regularly in Stockport by 2026.

We face a lost generation missing from Britain’s schools. Is there any better evidence of national decline under the Conservatives?

Being in school, learning and making friends, is the best place for every child. If children aren’t in school, we won’t get the high and rising standards all our children deserve.

Only Labour has a long-term plan to tackle this. The Education Secretary has belatedly claimed that reducing absence is her ‘number one priority’. Again, the Conservative Government is following where Labour leads. Just as we saw with crumbling schools, it is only acting once the problem has spiralled out of control.

The Conservatives have had fourteen years and absence – which was already rising before the pandemic – has only worsened on their watch. Throughout fourteen years of Tory-driven decline, they have shown they do not care about improving the life chances of other people’s children.

But the next Labour government will put education back at the forefront of national life, as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Labour will tackle the causes of school absence. We’ll roll out free breakfast clubs in every primary school, driving up attendance and attainment. We’ll secure mental health support inside and outside the school gates, with counsellors in secondary schools and hubs in the community. We’ll reform school inspections, introducing annual checks on attendance. We’ll join-up data to spot issues early and support families, nipping problems in the bud. We’ll deliver a reformed curriculum and assessment system to engage every child.

We’ll reset the broken relationship between government, schools and families. Under Labour, we’ll be partners in the push for better.

The difference Labour will make is clear. A party putting children first. A government prioritising education. A country where excellence is for everyone.

Our vision for education is simple but powerful: that background must be no barrier to opportunity.