The number of autistic people who are classed as “severely absent pupils” from school has more than doubled since 2019, according to new data from the Department for Education.
It found that more than 11,200 ‘severely’ absent autistic pupils are missing the equivalent of four months or more of the school year. In addition, the rate of ‘persistently’ absent autistic pupils has also increased. These are pupils who miss 10% or more of the school term (on average, around 20 days or a month off school).
Ambitious about Autism, who analysed the figures, found that in the school year 2023/24, 63,348 autistic pupils were persistent absentees. This equates to nearly a third (31%) of autistic pupils enrolled in schools in England in 2023/24. In 2018/19 the rate was 18%.
Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive, said: “These figures are further proof that the education system is failing autistic children and young people. Thousands of autistic pupils are missing out on significant periods of learning, and this can lead to a lifetime of negative consequences.
“Schools must be equipped to provide meaningful support so that autistic pupils are not only present in mainstream education but actively engaged and able to succeed. Autistic young people and parents have told us that autism-specific training in schools could help improve understanding and support for autistic pupils.
“Autistic young people have hopes and ambitions, and they deserve the chance to achieve them just like every other pupil. Now more than ever, we urge the government to work together with autistic young people and their families to ensure more autistic pupils feel happy, safe and able to learn in school.”
The same data also shows that young carers continue to miss more than a month of the school year (23 days) on average, compared to just 13 days for pupils without a caring role.
Persistent absence is almost twice as high at 38% for young carers compared to 20% for their classmates. Secondary persistent absence shows close to half of young carers miss a day of school every fortnight (45% compared to 25%)
Unauthorised absence also continues to be twice as high for young carers (5% vs 2.5%).
Andy McGowan, Carers Trust’s Policy and Practice Manager, said: “These shocking figures show how young carers continue to miss out on their education because of the huge pressure their caring role brings.
“If the Government is serious about tackling what it calls an absence epidemic, it needs to recognise why young carers are missing so much school. These children are just trying to do the best by those they care for, and that is causing them huge issues with attendance.”
“Sometimes, the person they look after needs urgent help in the morning, or the late nights and stress of caring catch up with them. Yet far too often, young carers do not get the help they need to balance caring and learning. The only way to tackle this is to vastly improve identification and support for carers across our education system.”
The charity is now calling on the Department for Education to urgently develop a plan for improving identification and support for young carers.
It says that introducing a Young Carers Lead in every school can help coordinate identification and support for young carers.
