A North East MP has called on the government to address an "educational catastrophe" as thousands of children are reported to have been gone missing from school in the last year.
Figures from the Department for Education state that local authorities in England identified an estimated 94,900 children missing from school at some point during the 2021/22 academic year. In the North East that figure was 2,090.
The figure represents those not registered at school or otherwise receiving suitable education. On a single day in spring this year, local authorities reported an estimated 24,700 children from education.
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And on Tuesday Schools minister Nick Gibb told the education select committee that the Department for Education (DfE) is "committed" to creating a register of children who are not attending standard education settings, however, it didn't have "legislative vehicle to introduce it". The situation prompted Gateshead's Labour MP Ian Mearns to ask for commitment to legislation to create a national register for children missing from education.
Speaking in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) today, Mr Mearns said: "Last year, 1.7m children missed more than 10% of their schooling, 125,000 children were absent more than they were in school, and a further 140,000 children were missing from formal schooling completely. This is both a safeguarding and an educational catastrophe and it's happening on the Prime Minister's watch.
"Yesterday, the schools minister told the education select committee that primary legislation was required to initiate a national register for children missing from education so we can find out where they are. Will the Prime Minister commit to bringing forward necessary legislation to combat this crisis for our children as a matter of urgency?"
Mr Sunak said he agreed with Mr Mearns that it was a "tragedy" and "incredibly damaging" for educational outcomes. He added that the government had invested £5bn during and after the pandemic to help children catch up with lost learning.
He also promised to work with the sector on attendance. However, Mr Sunak did not commit to legislation to create a national register for children missing from education in his response.
Mr Sunak said: "I agree with the honourable gentleman that children missing from school is a tragedy and it's incredibly damaging for educational outcomes, which is why during the pandemic and afterwards we invested £5bn to help children catch up with lost learning.
"It's important that we continue to deliver on those plans and we will of course make sure that we work with the sector to have more children attending school more often."
