Great Yarmouth court hears school attendance difficulties

Citing cases where parents pointed out school policies that prohibited access to the toilet during lessons and prevented them from changing hygiene products, Tina Leslie, of the then poverty charity Freedom 4 Girls, said it was unfair to punish girls for something they could not prevent.

“If you leak, you get stigmatized and name-called. That’s why these kids don’t go to school,” he said.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said policies needed to be implemented to encourage regular attendance.

“But these cases show that this issue is not always simple and that children and families face a range of challenges that can make regular participation even more difficult,” he explained.

Stuart Dyer, of Norfolk County Council’s education department, told the court: “It is always important that a parent ensures that their child receives the right to full-time education, maximizes their chances and continues to achieve their full potential.”

In each case, he said, schools contacted parents via letters and text messages and held meetings; some were not attended by parents.