Miss School: Miss Out

Children and young people from across Carmarthenshire are getting ready to return to school this week, for the beginning of a brand-new school year.

In readiness for their eager return, Carmarthenshire County Council is launching its Miss School: Miss Out campaign, which aims to remind and encourage children, young people and their families that not attending school on a particular day, or for a set period of time is not acceptable.

There are many reasons why a child should attend school, including meeting with their friends, building relationships and maximising opportunities to learn and develop.

Excellent school attendance allows a child to develop as an ambitious, capable learner, ready to learn throughout their life.

Going to school will help a child become an enterprising and creative contributor, ready to play a full part in life and work and will allow them to mature as an ethical, well-informed citizen of Wales and the world.

Children and young people are also more likely to become healthy and confident individuals from attending school, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

The County Council understands that some children have complex needs and particular reasons why, on occasion, attending school is difficult. Every one of our schools are able to support a child and parent(s) or guardians to address those difficulties.

In Carmarthenshire, school attendance is not yet as high as it was before COVID. Through the Miss School: Miss Out campaign, Carmarthenshire County Council will continue to work with parents and guardians, schools, teachers and support staff to improve school attendance for the future prosperity of Carmarthenshire, our children and young people.

Increasing school attendance in Carmarthenshire aligns with the County Council’s first well-being objective, which is to enable our children and young people to have the best possible start in life.

If your child does not attend school regularly, safeguarding concerns may be raised about their welfare and progress.

Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language – Cllr Glynog Davies said:

“Excellent attendance at school allows a child to have the best possible start in life. Every school day counts, missing a day here or there may not seem like much, but absences add up. Missing two days a month is equal to 4 weeks a year, which is over one year of lost learning from Year 1 to Year 13.

“I am very much looking forward to welcoming our learners, teachers and support staff back to school and back to a happy and welcoming learning environment. When school is missed, opportunities are missed, and it makes it harder for a child to learn and to develop.”

To find out more about Carmarthenshire County Council’s campaign to increase school attendance, please visit its Miss School: Miss Out webpage.