Latest data shows early years attendance has risen slightly
Annette Rawstrone
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Attendance levels at early years settings have risen slightly in May, official figures show, while school attendance continues to drop as unions express concern around the spread of the Indian variant.
The Department for Education (DfE) estimate that 910,000 children attended early years childcare settings on Thursday 13 May, about 55 per cent of the number of children who usually attend during term time.
On a typical day in the summer term the DfE expects attendance to be at 1,154,000 due to different and part-time patterns during the week. It is estimated that 910,000 children currently attending early years settings is approximately 79 per cent of the usual daily level.
The numbers, which are now being published fortnightly, have continued to slowly rise but remain much lower than would be expected in a usual summer term.
Data collected on 29 April found that 897,000 children were in attendance, which is about 55 per cent of the number of children who would be expected to attend during term time.
Schools
Meanwhile, school attendance figures for state-funded primary schools have continued to drop. Attendance was at 94 per cent on 20 May, which was down from 95 per cent on 12 May.
State-funded secondary schools continued to be even lower with 87 per cent attendance on 20 May, down from 89 per cent the previous week.
Commenting on the figures, Kevin Courtney, joint secretary of the National Education Union, expressed concern that the figures ‘obscure significant disruption’ to schools in areas hardest hit with the Indian variant, such as Bolton and Blackburn-with-Darwen.
Paul Whitman, general secretary of the NAHT union, agreed: ‘As these numbers show, it is still far too soon to be complacent about lifting Covid restrictions or relaxing safety measures in schools.
‘There is growing concern about the spread of the Indian variant in schools. The Government must make the data they hold on this public without further delay. Schools need transparency about the levels of infection around the country so they can make sure they have the right measures in place for their local area.
‘The Government must be proactive to ensure that transmission in schools, particularly in relation to the new variant, is not allowed to proceed unchecked.’
