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<p>The Department for Education collects information on absence through the termly
school census. The department collects data on the number of possible sessions, number
of authorised absences, number of unauthorised absences and the reason for absence
for each pupil. The reasons for absence do not include a category which would enable
sessions missed due to a lack of access to menstrual products to be identified. The
method of data collection does not enable us to identify pupils who are routinely
missing school as we collect information on the total sessions missed each term. Full
details of the absence data we collect in school census can be found in the census
guidance here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-census" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-census</a>.</p><p>We
are committed to ensuring that any action to address absence is based on robust evidence.
We have sought to establish whether there has been any rigorous national assessment
of the prevalence of period poverty or its impact on attendance, however none appears
available. We reached out to school stakeholders in July 2017 through the Association
of School and College Leaders forum asking for contributions on the issue and have
received a very limited response. We are producing additional analysis of our absence
data to look for evidence of period poverty and will publish findings in due course.</p><p>We
have made it a priority to reduce school absence for all pupils and there has been
some notable success in this area, with overall yearly absence rates decreasing from
6.5% of possible sessions missed in 2006/7 to 4.6% in 2015/16.</p>
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