Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total number of children who did not return to full time education following the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is no statutory requirement for local authorities or the department to hold information on home educated children, children taught in unregistered provision, or children missing from school rolls, though such data may be held by local authorities.

Local authorities have a duty under Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 to identify children of compulsory school age in their area who are not registered at a school, and are not receiving suitable education otherwise.

Information held on children who did not return to full-time education following the COIVD-19 pandemic is not held by the department.

Between 6 October and 4 November 2022, the department requested local authorities aggregate data on elective home education and children missing education to improve understanding of these cohorts. This data is being analysed and will be published in due course.