By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Figures showing more than 14,000 children are persistently absent from school in Gloucestershire, with half of these being pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, have sparked serious concerns.
Green Party county councillor Natalie Rothwell-Warn (Stroud Central), who chairs the children and family scrutiny committee at Gloucestershire County Council, told a recent meeting she was shocked by the figures.
She has raised concerns about both the scale of persistent absence among children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the county and whether government reforms are being matched with sufficient resources to succeed.
“If we look at the whole of Gloucestershire for the rest of the children according to government data there is actually a total of 14,036 children and young people who were persistently absent in the academic year 2024/25,” she told the last full council meeting at Shire Hall.
“This equates to just under a fifth of pupils in the county,” she said. She explained that they are missing at least 10 per cent of scheduled school time in an academic year.
Cllr Rothwell-Warn went on to say that “these absences combined equate to nearly eight of our secondary schools in Gloucestershire being empty for 19 days.”
“I was genuinely shocked to learn that more than 7,000 children and young people with SEND in Gloucestershire are persistently absent from school,” she said.
“These are children who are missing at least 19 days of education every year, and many are missing much more than that.
“When so many children are struggling to attend school, we have to ask ourselves why? Rather than blaming children and families, we need to understand what it is about the system that is not working for them.
“This is not just a Gloucestershire issue. It is a national issue that deserves a serious national response.”
Cllr Rothwell-Warn has called for the Government to undertake an independent national inquiry into the causes of persistent absence among children and young people and to examine why so many pupils feel unable to engage with mainstream education.
Alongside concerns about attendance, Cllr Rothwell-Warn has also questioned whether the government’s ambitious SEND reform programme can be delivered at the pace expected and with the resources available.
At last week’s county council cabinet meeting, she asked what contingency plans are in place should the new funding prove inadequate or delivery partners struggle to implement the required changes on schedule.
She also sought assurances that children, families and schools would not experience a deterioration in support if key milestones are missed.
Cllr Rothwell-Warn welcomes the ambition behind the reforms as “every child deserves access to the support they need in order to learn, as close to home as possible and without unnecessary delays”.
However, she believes the council needs to be realistic.
“Local authorities, schools, health services and families are already under enormous pressure,” she said. “Reform on this scale requires sustained investment, sufficient staffing and enough capacity across the whole system.
“My concern is that if the pace of change outstrips the resources available, it will be children and families who feel the consequences. New structures are being introduced while existing services are struggling to cope.”
Education and skills cabinet member Linda Cohen (LD, Wotton-under-Edge) said, in response to Cllr Rothwell-Warn’s question, that the national reform programme for SEND is significant and the council recognises that its delivery relies on effective partnership working.
She said the Gloucestershire implementation plan has been designed with a strong focus on risk management, phased implementation and ongoing oversight for that reason.
“In relation to funding, the Department for Education has confirmed a three-year transformation programme, and Gloucestershire has built contingency and flexibility into its financial model.
“Recruitment is primarily being undertaken through fixed-term arrangements aligned to the grant period, reducing the council’s exposure should national funding arrangements change in future years.
“Officers have also modelled future allocations using the Department’s published methodology and will keep investment plans under review as national guidance develops.
“In relation to delivery capacity, the implementation plan includes regular programme governance, performance monitoring and close engagement with the Department for Education and Gloucestershire’s SEND adviser.
“This enables us to identify emerging issues early and adjust delivery arrangements where necessary. The programme is also being delivered jointly with education settings, health partners, parent carer representatives and wider local area partners, helping to ensure that ownership of the reforms is shared across the system.
“Most importantly, children and families should not experience a reduction in existing statutory support if reform milestones move at a different pace than originally anticipated.
“The reforms are intended to enhance and strengthen provision rather than replace current statutory duties.”
Cllr Cohen also said existing education, health and care plan responsibilities and support services remain in place while the new arrangements are introduced. And the programme is being phased specifically to minimise disruption.
The county council has been approached for further comment.