Number of pupils missing more than half of school hits another record high

The number of children missing more than half of their time in school has hit another record high in England, according to data from the Department for Education (DfE). Although overall attendance improved for most students in 2024/25, the number who were "severely" absent - missing at least 50% of their classes - rose again. This was mainly due to a rise in pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) missing school, as the number of severely absent pupils without SEND fell when compared with the previous year. The DfE says it has made "real progress", with 225,000 more children attending school almost every day, but that it knows there is more to do for children with SEND. Mum Rebecca, not her real name, says there isn't enough support for children who go through long-term school absence due to illness. Her seven-year-old daughter Gracie had over two years of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, after she was diagnosed at the age of three. Gracie spent long periods in hospital, and despite finishing treatment and being in remission, her mum says she has since struggled to adapt to school life. She went through severe levels of school absence during and af