英国政府的一份评审报告将建议初等学校从小学末期开始识别面临失业或贫困风险的学生[1]。这一建议出自由Alan Milburn主导的青年失业危机评审，预计将纳入秋季发布的最终报告，旨在应对英国青年失业率创十年新高的问题[1]。
目前英国16至24岁的NEET青年（既未就业、未上学也未接受培训）人数已首次超过100万，占该年龄段总人口的八分之一[1]。Milburn指出，"预警信号从很早很早的年纪就出现了，坦白说从学龄前就有"[1]。Bradford的研究数据显示，4至5岁时未做好上学准备的儿童到16至17岁时成为NEET的可能性高出近3倍[1]。根据Milburn的中期报告，持续缺勤与青年人到16至18岁时成为NEET的风险增加3.9倍相关，与长期被排除在工作或学习机会外的风险增加6.3倍相关[1]。
官方数据表明，新冠疫情后学生缺勤问题加剧，2024至2025年度持续缺勤学生数量（缺课至少十分之一）增加近一倍至130万人[1]。目前一些学校已使用"Roni"（NEET风险指标）工具进行评估，但这种做法尚未被普遍推行或强制执行[1]。
A government review led by Alan Milburn will recommend that primary schools identify students facing a risk of becoming NEET—not in education, employment, or training—according to findings that will form part of a final report expected in autumn.[1] The proposal emerges as youth unemployment reaches a decade-high, with the number of NEET young people aged 16 to 24 exceeding one million for the first time in the first half of this year, representing one in eight of that age group.[1]
Research cited in the review demonstrates that early indicators of future joblessness appear remarkably young. Milburn stated that "warning signals emerge from a very early age, frankly from preschool onwards."[1] A Bradford study found that children unprepared for school at ages 4 to 5 were nearly three times more likely to become NEET by ages 16 to 17.[1] The interim report released in May revealed that persistent school absence significantly correlates with this risk: students with chronic absenteeism—missing at least one-tenth of school—face a 3.9 times greater likelihood of becoming NEET by ages 16 to 18, and a 6.3 times greater risk of long-term exclusion from work or learning opportunities.[1]
The scale of absenteeism has worsened dramatically following the pandemic. Official data shows that the number of students with persistent absence in the 2024-2025 academic year nearly doubled to 1.3 million.[1] While some schools currently use the "Roni" tool, a NEET risk indicator, this practice remains neither widespread nor mandatory across the education system.[1]