Kent’s school bosses have revealed the lengths they are going to to tackle low attendance in response to the government’s drive to boost figures.

Teachers are dressing up as clock-watching bunnies and bears, blasting music from the playgrounds and hiring ice cream vans all to get children through the front gates.

The Department for Education (DfE) says there has been a “worldwide rise” in absences and persistent absences from school since the pandemic, which broke habits of coming to lessons combined with other barriers such as mental ill health.

Chief executive of multi-academy trust The Golden Thread Alliance, Garry Ratcliffe, said although schools are struggling to bring attendance levels back up to pre-pandemic levels it is “top of the agenda” for leaders.

The organisation runs nine primary schools in Dartford and Gravesham, however, he said it is a challenge for the education sector including primary, secondary and special schools.

Mr Ratcliffe thinks one of the biggest issues is unauthorized holidays which has, in part, risen due to the cost of living.

He added: “We know there is a real crisis and the only way that many families can get a holiday is to take it in term time where a week or two weeks could be thousands of pounds cheaper compared to the fines they will get.

“I think it is really important for parents and carers to understand the impact that taking their children out of school for five days or more has, not only on learning but on their pockets too.

Last week, the government announced it would be increasing the fines handed to parents who take their children out of class without permission as part of its work to improve attendance.

The DfE has said charges must be considered if they miss five days of school.

The cost of that fine – for each parent – is to increase from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days and from £120 to £160 if paid in 28 days, from September.

It comes after nearly 400,000 penalty notices were issued to parents in England in 2022-23 for unauthorised school absences.

Nearly nine in 10 were for unauthorised holidays as families looked to book cheaper trips outside school term times, according to DfE figures released in December.

Mr Ratcliffe added: “I think schools are always wanting to promote attendance by making lessons fun and interesting, by making sure that its environment is safe and welcoming.

“I think every school, headteacher and teacher would really like to focus on improving attendance by offering rewards and incentives and by showing parents, carers and children what a good thing is to be in school every day rather than focusing on penalties.

“I think schools are really mindful that issuing the fixed penalty notice to a family that may be struggling may put an additional burden on them.

“But we have a responsibility to the DfE and Ofsted to ensure that our attendance rates rise.

“Parents also have a legal duty to ensure that their children attend school regularly and taking them out during term time for an unauthorized holiday means that they are not.”

In the UK, punishments for repeatedly failing to get children to school range from fines to three months in prison for the most drastic cases.

KentOnline previously spoke to some of those hauled before magistrates for failing to get their children to class.

Mr Ratcliffe continued: “We all accept that children get ill and they should be at home and looked after and we also know that there are children with special needs and disabilities that for a wide range of reasons need to be out of school sometimes.

“But above and beyond that for unauthorized absences, I think it provides a real burden for some of our teachers to continue to offer that catch-up for the students in their care.

“It makes teacher’s jobs in the classroom even tougher.”

Family liaison officer at Cecil Road Primary and Nursery School, Bernadette Vincent said fines are not always a deterrent so instead teachers try and use creative methods to encourage children through the front gates.

Part of their work includes dressing up as mascot Attendance Ted and Be on Time Bunny while blasting music and dancing around the playground in the mornings.

The school, in Cecil Road, Gravesend, has also started hiring an ice cream van, hosting cinema hours, and allowing classes to wear their own clothes – but only if students have 100% attendance.

Mrs Vincent said they hope in making school fun children will be more likely to want to attend.

She added: “It does put a smile on their face. It gives them a boost for the day and they want to come in and see them.

“It is really good fun and we have really good feedback.”

However, The Northfleet Schools Co-Operative Trust primary school is also sending out reminders, home visits, collecting children refusing to go to school and penalty fines, amongst other initiatives.

Mrs Vincent added: “Even if they miss two days, they miss so much. I think for children socially it is really important to attend school regularly.

“It is for the children’s benefit to attend school.

“However, it is really difficult to improve attendance. We want to do it positively and kindly, instead of negatively.

“The majority of our families are in every day but it is just a small minority. We are really lucky as most of our parents are really supportive.”

A previous freedom of information request showed that in 2021-22, the number of Kent children missing from education (CME) – defined as not being registered with a school or receiving suitable education in an alternative setting – has risen by 29% (to 1,685).

While parents choosing elective home education (EHE) has shot up by 20% to 1,747.

In Medway the numbers are far higher – albeit from a low base, with CMEs up by 44% (to 327) and EHEs by 58% (to 548).

Tackling persistent absence and getting pupils to return to school has been named a “top” priority by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

Speaking last week when she announced plans to raise fines issued to parents, she said: “Our fantastic schools and teachers unlock children’s imagination, potential and social skills which is why improving attendance is my number one priority.

“Today we are taking that next step to further boost attendance and I want to thank those who are working with us including teachers and heads.”

Schools will also now be required to share daily attendance registers with education officials, councils and trusts so that the data can be used to identify “worrying trends” of persistent absence.