Dodd Partners
DfE seeks organisation to mentor pupils in disadvantaged areas as persistent absence remains high
Influential committee chair warns of 'unacceptable' lack of accountability'
Children of families subject to immigration control were temporarily given access to free meals in April 2020
Absences rose more than five-fold in first full year of the pandemic
But announcement contains no extra help for schools with rising energy bills
Doubts cast on plans to make tests non-statutory from next year after government pencils-in dates for 2024
DfE data shows Covid disruption to schools is on the rise again
Attendance tracker records 'first significant increase' since late January
Dozens of former teachers who signed up to alleviate Covid staff pressures have pulled out
