Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to assist the Children's Commissioner for England in (a) locating school pupils who have long-term absence from school and (b) addressing any associated safeguarding concerns.

The Home Office is the Government department responsible for policing in England and Wales. At a national level the police are represented in the ‘Attendance Action Alliance’ formed by the Secretary of State for Education in December 2021; working in partnership with other Alliance members (including the Children’s Commissioner for England) to achieve the aim of increasing attendance in schools.

As statutory safeguarding partners, police forces in England must make arrangements to work together with relevant agencies across their area (including schools) to identify and respond to the needs of children in their area, in order to safeguard them and promote their welfare.

Home Office officials have been closely engaged with their colleagues in the Department for Education throughout the pandemic to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on school attendance and any associated safeguarding issues. Government departments will continue to work collaboratively in shaping our strategic approach to supporting and safeguarding vulnerable children and young people.