SCHOOL NON-ATTENDANCE RESEARCH 2026

School attendance difficulties are affecting families across the UK, yet there is still a significant gap between what families are experiencing and what is understood about the reasons children become unable to attend school. We hear from families every day about anxiety, unmet SEND, sensory needs, school-based trauma, difficulties accessing support and the enormous impact prolonged school non-attendance can have on the whole family. We wanted to understand the bigger picture.

As part of School Avoidance Awareness Week 2026, Sunshine Support undertook their largest piece of research into school avoidance to date.

More than 1,100 families shared their experiences with us.

We asked families what was happening before attendance became difficult, what they believed was contributing to their child’s difficulties, how quickly those difficulties were recognised, what response and support they received, and the impact on life beyond the school gates.

The survey has now closed and we are analysing what families told us.

What has emerged is a powerful picture of school avoidance that goes far beyond attendance percentages. The findings explore the environments children are trying to access, the barriers they experience, the warning signs that can appear before attendance deteriorates, how systems respond, and the wider impact on children and their families.

The full findings from our 2026 research will be published here on 7 September 2026.

This research will form an important part of School Avoidance Awareness Week, taking place from 21–25 September, and will help us bring the experiences of children and families into wider conversations with schools, professionals, policymakers and the media.

Media and research enquiries

If you are a journalist, researcher or professional and would like to discuss the research, request an interview or speak to us about our work around school avoidance and non-attendance, please use the contact form below.