Nearly 56,000 SEND pupils may miss school. Learn evidence-backed school–family communication strategies to improve attendance. Read now.
New research from teachers, families and health professionals suggests that school avoidance is often rooted in lost safety, trust and belonging—not poor behaviour.
This blog looks beyond school attendance figures to explore what may be happening in the lives of children and families experiencing school avoidance. Drawing on Sunshine Support’s 2026 research involving 1,103 children’s experiences and comparing those findings with national attendance statistics, it highlights the importance of recognising distress early, understanding the barriers that can make education difficult to access, and responding with curiosity rather than judgement. Above all, it argues that while attendance matters, meaningful and sustainable access to education begins by listening to the child behind the number.
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