Agenda Alliance responds to police involvement in school attendance

We remain shocked by the insensitive and ineffective measures some schools are resorting to when trying to get children back in school. Rather than understanding context for absence, schools are creating fear and distress by threatening parents with criminalisation.

Our alliance members tell us women they work with are experiencing threats of criminalisation, causing significant stress at a time when they are often struggling to find support for their child’s own unmet needs.

Girls tell us that sexual harassment and exploitation; poor support with mental health challenges or SEND; the pressure of caring responsibilities; experiences of poverty; and discriminatory behaviour policies can mean they simply don’t feel safe in school.

Criminalising parents further risks entrenching intergenerational cycles of unmet need and causing significant harm to children - entirely avoidable if appropriate, tailored support is offered early on.