Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the number of children with special educational needs who do not attend school; and if she will make a statement.

Between 6 October and 4 November 2022, the department requested that local authorities aggregate data on electively home educated children and children missing education. This is to improve our understanding of these cohorts, including the number of these children who are on Education, Health and Care plans or who require special educational needs (SEN) support. This data is currently being analysed and will be published in due course. The department wants to give all children and young people, including those with SEN, the opportunity to thrive, with access to the right support in the right place and at the right time, to fulfil their potential and lead happy, healthy and productive adult lives.