Free online toolkit aims to combat 'chronic' absenteeism in schools

School inspectors have raised the alarm about school attendance, with more than a quarter of all primary school students, and more than a fifth of all post-primary students, missing out on 20 or more school days during the 2022/23 school year. Picture: Dany Lawson/PA

With chronic absenteeism doubling since the pandemic, the first Irish toolkit to combat the phenomenon of school avoidance will be launched on Monday.

Developed by the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI), the free online toolkit, the first of its kind here, includes evidence-based resources for educators and parents and practical strategies for supporting children and young people struggling with school attendance.