A generation of children in Plymouth are missing out on school. Nearly 800 pupils in Plymouth are absent from at least half their lessons, a 571% rise since 2016. It now equates to a staggering 28 classrooms worth of children.

Our city has good schools and teachers who work their socks off. But it is also inevitable that children who are missing this many lessons will fall seriously behind. Every child deserves an excellent education. That is why I am supporting Labour’s plan to tackle persistent school absence and boost standards in education.

Our children receive less funding each than the average pupil in England, a gap that has existed every year since at least 2014. It’s about time our city got its fair share

This is not about playing politics. We must stop persistent school absences in Plymouth for a simple reason: every child deserves a decent start in life, regardless of background.

You can read more in the Herald: https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/news-opinion/there-plan-plymouths-missing-pupils-9048463