The Education and Welfare Service (EWS) currently receives an average of 300 referrals every month from schools about children who are not attending class, although the causes can range from emotional-based school avoidance to physical health, domestic abuse and drug and alcohol issues.
From 2019 to May 2025, nearly 500 parents or guardians were prosecuted by the Education Authority for keeping their children from school without a valid excuse.
Of the 4,120 children referred to the EWS, more than a third are currently on a waiting list, the Education Authority (EA) confirmed.
Children’s Commissioner Chris Quinn said his office was “exploring issues related to anxiety-based school avoidance, impact of poverty, ill health, long-term impact of Covid-19 and bullying”.
“We need to understand why these children and young people are not returning to school and explore whether their support needs are being met,” he added.