Labour responds to news that the Department for Education was blocked from legislating for a register of children not in school

Helen Hayes MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Children & Early Years, commenting on the admission today by Department for Education Permanent Secretary Susan Acland-Hood that the Department for Education was blocked by Downing Street from legislating for a register of children not in school, said:

“Last year more than one in five children were persistently absent from school. Some will have not returned to school since the pandemic, but the government has consistently failed to prioritise getting them back to school. Every day of learning matters for our children and young people, to set them up to achieve and thrive.

“It is shocking that Rishi Sunak appears to have blocked a register of children not in school from the King’s Speech, despite cross-party support and a request from the Department for Education.

“If the government won’t act, the next Labour government will legislate to identify children out of school and ensure families and schools get the support needed to guarantee an excellent education for every child.”

Ends

Notes  

The admission can be seen here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6d8dbe3c-32e1-4bae-9e8f-3809fbab8879

Susan Acland Hood, Permanent Secretary “…what’s in the King’s Speech is not the same as what we tried to get into the King’s Speech, I think would be the thing I would say on that”

It can be heard in the exchange between 11:39:52 and 11:40:41, in particular from 11:40:35 to 11:40:41.