Miscellaneous — 23 Jan 2024 at 16:50

“the Government really should be making the parliamentary time available to ensure that this simple and necessary measure passes into law. Frankly, the public will find it astonishing that there is no such register already.”

“intend to legislate to ensure we have a ‘children not in school’ register.”

“That is something no parent who is doing the right thing should be concerned about”.-[Official Report, 14 March 2022; Vol. 710, c. 605.]

“We think a register of children not in school is important.”

“it is my priority and I hope to legislate on it in the very short term.”-[Official Report, 11 December 2023; Vol. 742, c. 607.]

“Today, an unremarkable Wednesday in the second week back after a two week holiday, 10% of our students are absent from school. 17% of Year 11 students, those in the most important examination year of their lives, are absent. We’ve become used to these statistics and sadly, these patterns of absence are now considered normal in schools. Indeed, our attendance is higher than national and local averages.”

“There needs to be more pastoral and mental health support within schools. This Government need to understand that a one size curriculum does not fit all. Children’s mental health services are so overstretched and under-resourced that young people are on waiting lists for months on end and no support while they wait. All of the above have contributed to my girls having lots of absences. Lots of letters home with threats of further action not only cause distress to young people, but also the parents.”

“Otis felt that he was placed with pupils with much more significant, and much more visible, needs. His education offer was gradually whittled until he did not go to the school site at all.”

Debate in Parliament |