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A literature search identified only 12 articles which had examined the relative effect of either attendance or absence on primary/elementary school children's literacy and numeracy. However, with respect to the relative effect of both attendance and absence, no consistent picture emerged from the articles. Furthermore, for each of the articles, the conclusion about the relative effect was based on visual inspection of the relevant statistic. The second problem was overcome in the study presented in this article by using the British Ability Scales Word Reading and Basic Arithmetic scales to assess the literacy and numeracy of eleven-year-old Poor and Better Attenders. Significantly more of the former than the latter were found to have an arithmetic score significantly below their reading score. The article ends with a consideration of the implications of the study for the primary school teacher and of COVID-19 for the study's findings.

From a review of the literature, it is concluded that (i) each form of pupil absenteeism relates to a heterogeneous group of children; (ii) because of such heterogeneity, those who are involved in assessment and intervention in relation to pupil absenteeism are faced with a demanding task; (iii) as a consequence of their education and training, educational psychologists (EPs) have the appropriate knowledge and skills for dealing with pupil absenteeism at both the individual and group level; (iv) with respect to dealing with pupil absenteeism, EPs could make and have made a contribution; (v) EPs have the necessary experience of working at a multi-agency level and, in connection with pupil absenteeism, have worked not only with the children and their parents but also at both whole school and multi-agency levels; and (vi) EPs have already demonstrated in the literature that they have much to offer in this important and demanding area.

Two complementary studies of poor and better attenders are presented. To measure emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) different teacher-completed rating scales were employed, and to determine social difficulties, the studies used sociometry and some items from the scales. One study had a longitudinal design. It revealed that, after controlling for social class, gender and EBD in Year 2, poor attendance between Years 2 and 6 had the effect of significantly increasing EBD in Year 6. Both studies also had a cross-sectional design element which gave an indication of some of the poor attenders' social difficulties and confirmed the longitudinal findings. The rating scales also provided measurements of "neurotic" and "antisocial" disorders. These suggested that a "neurotic" disorder may have played a bigger part than an "antisocial" disorder in the poor attenders' EBD. The article ends with a list of recent references dealing with intervention issues. (Contains 4 tables.)

The research study presented in this article was conducted because of the surprising paucity of research findings on the effect of significant absence from primary school on peer relationships. Participants in the study were Year 6 pupils, 140 of whom had attendance records of 80% or less in both Years 2 and 6. Of the 140, 133 were matched with those with better attendance records in the same class, of the same gender and born in the same season of the year. As revealed by sociometry conducted in 89 classes, the poor attenders were found to make and to receive fewer friendship choices than those with better attendance records. The question as to whether poor attendance is a result or a cause of having fewer friends is discussed and consideration is given to intervention issues. (Contains 2 tables.)