A significant shift in parental attitudes towards school attendance is underway across Britain, with three-quarters of parents now admitting they allow their children to take unofficial 'duvet days' from school.
The Changing Landscape of School Attendance
According to a comprehensive new survey conducted by Perspectus Global on behalf of education event Bett, 75 per cent of the 2,000 parents surveyed have permitted their child to stay home from school when they felt tired, emotional or otherwise unable to attend. The research reveals that parental perspectives on school attendance have relaxed considerably in recent years.
The data shows that 40 per cent of parents have authorised these mental health breaks on multiple occasions, with families reporting an average of six such absences during the previous academic year. Perhaps most strikingly, 75 per cent of parents observed that their child's behaviour actually improved following these sanctioned breaks from school.
Prioritising Wellbeing Over Attendance
The survey findings highlight a fundamental change in how parents value different aspects of their children's development. An overwhelming 97 per cent of parents surveyed stated they believe their child's mental health holds equal importance to their academic achievement.
This evolving perspective appears connected to broader lifestyle changes, with 54 per cent of the 32 per cent of parents who reported becoming more relaxed about attendance citing the normalisation of working from home as a contributing factor to their changed viewpoint.
Beyond emotional wellbeing, the survey uncovered various other reasons parents justify school absences. Family visits accounted for 43 per cent of authorised absences, while day trips represented 33 per cent and sports events 16 per cent. More concerningly, the report noted that 11 per cent of parents had removed children from school for cinema trips, and 7 per cent for routine hairdressing appointments.
Balancing Wellbeing and Educational Consequences
The survey report acknowledges the complex balance between supporting children's mental health and ensuring they receive adequate education. It references Office for National Statistics research indicating that higher absence levels correlate with increased probability of mental health challenges, with this effect accelerating as absences accumulate.
In response to the findings, a Department for Education spokesperson highlighted improvements in attendance patterns, noting 140,000 fewer children were persistently absent last academic year, representing 5 million additional days in the classroom. The spokesperson emphasised the government's 'support first' approach and expansion of mental health support teams in schools.
The Bett survey concludes that these changing attitudes prompt deeper questions about the nature of 21st-century education, suggesting that the ultimate solution lies in creating educational environments where children genuinely want to be present, while helping families understand the long-term consequences of missed education.
