Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Centre for Social Justice Kids can’t catch up if they don’t show up, published on 27 June, which found that almost 100,000 children did not return to schools full-time when they re-opened in March.

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused particular challenges for children, many of whom have faced significant disruption to their education. In May 2021, the department published pupil absence data from the 2020 autumn term: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england-autumn-term.

Good attendance at school is vital for pupils’ education, wellbeing and development. This is why the department’s £3 billion investment in education recovery includes over £900 million that schools can use as they see best to support the children who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the department has worked closely with local authorities and schools to support school attendance, including through providing best practice advice and guidance.