Campaign with us．
Innovate with us．
Collaborate with us．
Working together to better understand absence from school & find effective inclusive solutions to the attendance crisis
1,569,303
21%
of all school age children are persistently absent
missing 10% of the school year
up 83% since 2019
The Scale of the Problem
We are in the midst of a school attendance crisis that requires us to develop a new framework of understanding
150,256
2% of all school age children are
severely absent
missing 50% or more of the school year
up 53% since 2019
20.3%
of 8 to 16 year olds
23.3%
of 17 to 19 year olds
have a clinically diagnosable mental health need
that’s 5 in every class
36%
of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
31% receiving SEN Support
35% receiving Free School Meals
46% Young Carers
were persistently absent
Children in Need
2x more likely to be persistently absent
4 x more likely to be severely absent or suspended
8x more likely to be in Alternative Provision
7x more likely to be permanently excluded
Government data for mainstream schools and NHS statistics (November 2023)
There are 1.5 million children struggling to attend school
We challenge the rigid system that fails a third and pushes increasing numbers out of it
We champion every child and their caregivers as experts in their children
We cheerlead every professional and practitioner working to make a difference
Our Three Strands
We are in the midst of a school attendance crisis but together we can influence government, transform systems and enable better solutions
COLLABORATE
Working together to gain insight and explore solutions
INNOVATE
Working together to deliver innovative solutions
CAMPAIGN
Working together to influence and effect change
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TEAM SQUARE PEG
Meet our community of advisers, associates, champions and innovators from across the UK
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OUR IMPACT
View our impact to date and see how we are collaboratively effecting change, together
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CALLS TO ACTION
Discover a selection of things you can do to support our work, use your voice and effect change today
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AMPLIFYING
Watch videos, read articles and listen to interviews to see how we are breaking down barriers through advocacy and storytelling - how you can do it too
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CHANGEMAKING
Find out more about our lobbying, collaborating and partnership work
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TEN TRUTHS
These ten truths follow the evidence and challenge our perceptions about children and young people
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WRITE TO YOUR MP
Discover how to write to your MP, maximise engagement with your correspondence and share our campaigns
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PUBLICATIONS
Explore our publications and contributions, available to download and share
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ABOUT INSPIRE.
Find out how you can harness the power of experts with professional and lived experience
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SOLUTIONS INCUBATOR
We offer a growing range of products at various stages of development designed to foster belonging, inclusion and social innovation
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NOT FINE IN SCHOOL
For parents looking for resources, informal advice, information, and support
SQUARE PEGS
Inclusivity, compassion and fitting in
A guide for schools
Join us today.
Express your interest today to join as a collaborator and access the early bird price of £39 a year (or £3.25 per month)
