Education Secretary Gillian Keegan suggests that the increase in parents working from home during the pandemic might contribute to a concerning rise in children’s absences from school, particularly on Fridays. She notes a 25 percent increase in unauthorised school absences compared to pre-pandemic levels, with Fridays showing a 20 percent higher absence rate than Wednesdays, especially in primary schools.
However, experts challenge the notion that parents’ home-working arrangements are solely responsible for the increase, pointing instead to broader issues like mental health, anxiety, and communication breakdowns between schools and families. They argue that government responses have not adequately addressed the underlying factors driving absenteeism, such as mental health challenges and unmet special educational needs.
