I was disturbed to read this week about the that over half of all pupils eligible for free school meals were persistently absent from school in Wales last year. Recent figures show in the 2025-26 academic year, 51.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals were persistently absent from school, up from 49% in 2024-25. Last year, school attendance was worse amongst older year groups, with year 11 attendance at 86.4% compared to 92.6% in year 3. As the Welsh spokesman for education and families these findings are deeply worrying and the Welsh Government needs to get a grip on these issues. Not only is overall school attendance falling, but the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers is widening, with more than half of pupils eligible for free school meals now persistently absent from school.