The rise of attendance mentors in schools and how they help

Attendance at school is essential, not just for academic achievement, but for a child or young person’s overall development. Regular attendance helps pupils build knowledge, develop social skills, and grow into emotionally resilient adults. When pupils miss school, they can fall behind in their learning, feel isolated, and experience increased anxiety.

Unfortunately, absenteeism continues to be a challenge, with rates rising in recent years. By 2023, the rate of persistent absenteeism in England had reached 22%, with over 125,000 pupils severely absent—equivalent to the size of 435 primary schools. This is where attendance mentors can make a real difference.

What are attendance mentors?

Attendance mentors are dedicated professionals who focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of absenteeism. They provide personalised support to pupils who struggle with regular attendance or are affected by emotionally based school avoidance. Whether these barriers are academic, social, or emotional, attendance mentors play a crucial role in improving pupil wellbeing, academic attainment, and overall engagement with school. Their presence in schools ensures that pupils receive the targeted help they need to overcome obstacles and remain committed to their education.

The importance of attendance in schools

Attendance mentors are crucial because regular school attendance is vital for a multitude of reasons that stretch beyond exam grades, these include:

Social development

Being in school helps children and young people develop important social skills, such as teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution, which are vital for future success.

Emotional wellbeing

Regular attendance helps pupils build emotional resilience, reducing the risk of anxiety and depression often associated with chronic absenteeism.

Safety and support

Schools provide a safe environment where pupils can access various forms of support, including mental health resources, which might not be available at home.

Academic achievement

Consistent attendance ensures that pupils don’t miss out on essential learning opportunities, which can lead to improved academic outcomes.

How attendance mentors help reduce absenteesim

Attendance mentors work closely with pupils to understand and address the challenges they face that lead to absenteeism. These mentors often serve as a bridge between pupils, teachers, and parents, ensuring that each child or young person receives the support they need. By identifying the root causes of absenteeism—whether they are academic struggles, social issues, or emotional difficulties—attendance mentors create tailored strategies to help pupils re-engage with their education.

Understanding emotionally based school avoidance

Emotionally based school avoidance is a significant factor contributing to absenteeism. Children and young people may avoid school due to anxiety, depression, or other emotional challenges, finding the school environment overwhelming. Attendance mentors are key in identifying these emotional barriers and providing the necessary support to help pupils feel safe and supported in returning to school. Their work is particularly effective when integrated with broader school initiatives aimed at fostering a positive and inclusive school environment.

Thrive joins national DfE initiative to tackle school absenteeism

Thrive is playing a pivotal role in the Attendance Mentoring Pilot Expansion (AMPE) project, a major Department for Education initiative aimed at testing the impact of mentoring on reducing persistent absenteeism in schools across England.

Launched in October 2024 and led by Etio (formerly Tribal Group Education Services), the project will last for three-and-a-half years and involve 40 secondary schools in 10 areas across England: Nottingham, Walsall, West Somerset, Ipswich, Hastings, Blackpool, Norwich, Hartlepool, Portsmouth and Rochdale.

The project will recruit and train around 50 mentors to support 10,800 pupils who are missing between 10% and 50% of school time. The programme will evaluate the impact of mentoring on improving school attendance.

As part of the project, Thrive will provide expert training to the mentors, drawing on nearly 30 years of experience helping educators and organisations improve wellbeing, attendance, behaviour and learning outcomes. Mentors will train as Thrive Licensed Practitioners, equipping them with the skills to address the emotional and social barriers that often prevent young people from attending school. Click here to learn more about the project.

Success stories from schools using Thrive

Schools that have implemented the Thrive Approach have seen significant improvements in attendance and overall wellbeing. For example, Ed Stanton, Head of The Elland Academy, noted, "Thrive has impacted on exclusions. Students that have come in the cohort we have here at the moment have reduced exclusions by 81% over the time they are here. And a reduction in exclusions obviously has an impact and improvement on attendance."

Similarly, Laura Griffin, a Teacher and Thrive Licensed Practitioner at Greater Horseshoe, shared, "Many of the pupils have previously had negative experiences of education which have resulted in issues with attendance, with some pupils not having attended school for up to two years. We pride ourselves on adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to deal with this. As a result, attendance rates now stand at between 78 and 92 percent, with Ofsted praising the improvements the school has achieved."

Want to make an impact like Ed Stanton and Laura Griffin? Discover how you can become a Thrive Licensed Practitioner and transform your school's attendance and wellbeing.