As pupils return to school following the October Half Term, Sefton Council is reminding parents, carers and children of the importance of regular school attendance—and celebrating a significant reduction in absence rates across the borough.

Overall reduction

Latest data, recorded as of July 2025, shows that overall absence in Sefton schools has decreased across all phases—Primary, Secondary and Special—compared to the same point in the previous academic year.

Persistent absence—defined as pupils missing 10% or more of their possible sessions—has also seen notable improvements.

Sefton’s overall persistent absence rate is now 19.9%, down 2.4 percentage points from 22.3%. Primary schools in Sefton have seen a dramatic improvement, with persistent absence falling to 12.4%, a 3.8 percentage point decrease from 16.2%.

Significant progress

Sefton’s special schools have made the most significant progress, with persistent absence reduced to 29.3%, a 10.4 percentage point decrease from 39.7%.

Cllr Diane Roscoe, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families said: “We’re incredibly proud of the progress our schools and families have made in improving attendance.

“Every day in school counts. Children are soaking up knowledge and developing vital skills simply by being in school alongside their peers, it’s so important that no child misses out.”

“We’re continuing to work together to build on this momentum and ensure every child can thrive.

“We understand that there will be exceptional circumstances and certain challenges around attendance and if this is the case, we urge families to contact their schools.”

Support available

Parents and carers are encouraged to continue supporting regular attendance and to reach out to their child’s school or local support services if they need help overcoming barriers to attendance.

Families that do have valid reasons for non-attendance such as poor health or exceptional family circumstances are reassured to talk with their school. Working together it is possible to maximise learning time and find solutions that keep children in a learning environment in some capacity.