
East Kilbride school 'superheroes' launch campaign to boost attendance
Led by Ellie, from Kirktonholme Primary, the pupils helped South Lanarkshire Council kick off its campaign to boost and maintain attendance in schools.
Every School Day Matters aims to highlight the social and lifelong benefits of education, and as the term draws to a close, it is targeting young children preparing to start in August.
(Image: South Lanarkshire Council)
Councillor Gavin Keatt, depute chairperson of the council's education resources committee, says the campaign comes on the back of startling research which reveals the impact of low attendance.
He said: 'I was taken aback to discover that, from our own research, a young person who misses even a few weeks of school each year, from P1 through to S3, loses an entire year of education.'
(Image: South Lanarkshire Council)
He added: 'Family life is busy, and from time to time it might seem that a day's absence here or there really doesn't make a difference. We know that's not the case.
'Coming to school is about so much more than books and numbers. It helps to nurture, support and create social skills, friendships, support networks, resilience and the ability to learn, change and adapt.'
(Image: South Lanarkshire Council)
Councillor Keatt met Ellie, the face of the campaign, to highlight to families that 'every pupil can find their superpower in the classroom' adding: 'That could be in the art class, music hall, playground, science lab and playing field.'
He said: 'Being in school is the foundation upon which happy, successful and resilient young people are built.'
A dedicated page is now live on the council website, with lots of information, support, links and advice on the campaign, which will run at various times across the coming school year, and will focus on specific groups, including secondary schools, as it progresses.

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East Kilbride school 'superheroes' launch campaign to boost attendance
Led by Ellie, from Kirktonholme Primary, the pupils helped South Lanarkshire Council kick off its campaign to boost and maintain attendance in schools. Every School Day Matters aims to highlight the social and lifelong benefits of education, and as the term draws to a close, it is targeting young children preparing to start in August. (Image: South Lanarkshire Council) Councillor Gavin Keatt, depute chairperson of the council's education resources committee, says the campaign comes on the back of startling research which reveals the impact of low attendance. He said: 'I was taken aback to discover that, from our own research, a young person who misses even a few weeks of school each year, from P1 through to S3, loses an entire year of education.' (Image: South Lanarkshire Council) He added: 'Family life is busy, and from time to time it might seem that a day's absence here or there really doesn't make a difference. We know that's not the case. 'Coming to school is about so much more than books and numbers. It helps to nurture, support and create social skills, friendships, support networks, resilience and the ability to learn, change and adapt.' (Image: South Lanarkshire Council) Councillor Keatt met Ellie, the face of the campaign, to highlight to families that 'every pupil can find their superpower in the classroom' adding: 'That could be in the art class, music hall, playground, science lab and playing field.' He said: 'Being in school is the foundation upon which happy, successful and resilient young people are built.' A dedicated page is now live on the council website, with lots of information, support, links and advice on the campaign, which will run at various times across the coming school year, and will focus on specific groups, including secondary schools, as it progresses.


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