TEACHING union leaders said today’s new measures to tackle persistent absence from school are “immensely frustrating” and “too little too late.”

The Department for Education announced there will be 18 new “attendance hubs” across six regions — local tip-sharing sites run by schools with excellent attendance — bringing the total to 32.

Some £15 million over three years will go towards expanding the attendance mentor pilot programme, with trained attendance mentors working in 10 further areas from September.