LGA outlines “urgent” need for cross-government strategy to tackle persistent absence and children missing out on school

The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that there are “significant omissions” in the current powers local authorities have to exercise their statutory duties, which means it is possible for children who are missing school to “slip through the net”.

Ahead of a Westminster Hall Debate on School Attendance secured by Vicky Ford, Conservative MP for Chelmsford, for today (23 January), the Association called for a “cross-government, child centred-strategy” to tackle “rising disadvantage” and the wider factors that are contributing toward causing persistent absence and for children to miss out on school.

“This must include reforming the SEND system; expanding access to mental health support and youth services; connecting with hard-to-reach communities; and ensuring schools are resourced, supported and incentivised”, said the LGA.

Research commissioned by the LGA in 2020 on children missing mainstream education found that there were three main factors which explained the rise in the number of children who are persistently absent, or not receiving a suitable formal, full-time education:

• The changing nature of the needs and experiences that children are bringing into school;
• Pressures and incentives on schools’ capacity to meet those needs; and
• The capacity of the system to ensure appropriate oversight of decisions taken regarding children’s entry to and exit from schools

The Association revealed that it supports the introduction of a register of children who are out of school, combined with powers for councils to meet face-to-face with children.

The measure would allow councils to verify that children are receiving a suitable education in a safe environment. However, the LGA shared its concern that the information parents would be required to provide for registering children that are receiving Elective Home Education (EHE) “will not be sufficient to enable councils to verify whether a child is receiving a suitable education, identify where they may benefit from further support, or help to safeguard vulnerable children”.

The LGA noted that further consideration should be given to how councils will identify children who are out of school if their parents do not come forward to register them.

Sharing its concern about the growing use of school exclusions, the Association drew attention to statistics provided by the Department for Education (DfE), which show an increasing trend of children and young people missing out on access to mainstream schools, as a result of permanent exclusion and suspension.

The LGA warned the figures demonstrate “decreasing inclusion in mainstream schools”, driven by shortfalls in school and high-needs funding and pressure from school league tables.

Lottie Winson