New bid to get absent children back to school – Western Mail 

What’s on the front page of Western Mail this morning? 

The front page of Western Mail this morning – 03/12/2024 – reports the Welsh Government has announced a new £8.8m plan to get truanting kids back to school.

1. More than four years after classrooms first closed in the pandemic school attendance in Wales still trails more than 4% below pre-pandemic levels. Persistent absence is also a stubborn problem with 3% of Wales’ 469,00 pupils missing 10% or more school sessions in the last school year, rising to 7.2% of those eligible for free school meals, latest Welsh Government data shows.
2. Rhian Wilkinson says Wales have nothing to fear over their Euro 2025 play-off final and trying to reach a major tournament for the first time. Wales welcomd the Republic of Ireland to Cardiff on Friday, which ended in a 1-1 draw, with Dublin’s Aviva Stadium hosting the return leg on Tuesday.