A spokesman said: "Poor attendance at school can have a hugely damaging effect, and children who attend school regularly are nearly four times more likely to achieve five or more good GCSEs than those who are regularly absent.
Children given deworming treatment in Kenya ended up having better attendance at school and growing taller.
"Attendance at school, especially by girls, deprives such forces from power," he said.
"It creates a dedication to consistency, like perfect attendance at school," Mr. Hendrickson added.
Her son's attendance at school is creeping back up to 100% now.
But her poor attendance at school is just the most visible clue to the greater turmoil at home.
If attendance at school ceases, the resulting shortfall in education can cause long-term harm to life prospects.
"We will set out any additional steps necessary to secure children's attendance at school in due course," he said.
In this instance, the DWP would pay the charity for improved attendance at school (£1,400 per individual) and entry into employment (£3,500 per individual).
Convention 138 allows children from the age of 13 (12 in the poorest countries) to do light work provided it doesn't affect their attendance at school.
"We will examine today's judgment in detail but are clear that children's attendance at school is non-negotiable so we will now look to change the legislation.
