Parents could have their child benefit stopped if their children skip school, Michael Gove has suggested.
Speaking at the Onward Centre right think tank, the Levelling Up Secretary said the idea was originally considered by the coalition government under David Cameron but was blocked by the Liberal Democrats. He suggested it could now be re-considered as part of a drive to restore "an ethic of responsibility".
"We need to - particularly after Covid - get back to an absolute rigorous focus on school attendance, on supporting children to be in school," he said. "It is often the case that it is truanting or persistent absenteeism that leads to involvement in anti-social behaviour.
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"So, one of the ideas that we floated in the coalition years, which the Liberal Democrats rejected, is the idea that if children are persistently absent then child benefit should be stopped." His comments, during a question and answer session, followed a wide-ranging speech on the future of conservatism in which he stressed the need to rebuild a sense of community.
However, a headteachers’ union warned that families needed to be offered help rather than threatened with losing benefits, reports The Mirror. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said: "Not only is this wrong, it is also likely to be counter-productive.
“It is very hard to see how consigning children to poverty and starvation will improve their school attendance. School staff are already deeply concerned by how many children are living in poverty and the impact that has on their academic performance and wellbeing.
“Persistent absence can only be successfully tackled by offering help, not punishment. What is needed are more support services and resources for schools to work with families and to refer to when there are issues."
Downing Street said it was not aware of plans to change or alter current policy.
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