300,000 Children Missing Out on Education in England: Thinktank Findings
Incomplete records and patchy data have revealed a shocking reality in England – up to 300,000 children are missing out on education, according to a recent report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI). The EPI’s findings have sparked concern and calls for urgent action to address this critical issue that affects some of the most vulnerable children in society.
The Alarming Numbers
The EPI’s analysis is based on the discrepancy between the number of children registered with NHS GPs in England and the number of five- to 15-year-olds on school rolls or recorded as in home education. This gap has widened by 40% between 2017 and 2023, indicating a significant increase in prolonged school absences possibly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The report highlights that the 300,000 figure has its limitations, as it does not include children who have moved abroad or to other parts of the UK, nor does it account for potential double registrations.
The Urgent Call for Action
Whitney Crenna-Jennings, the EPI’s associate director, emphasized the need for comprehensive data on children and targeted interventions to ensure that every child receives their legal entitlement to education. The report suggests that the government’s plans to create a register of children not in school are inadequate and calls for a more complete register using data from various administrative sources. The EPI also recommends that schools record reasons for each child being removed from their rolls, with the data centrally collected.
A National Crisis
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, stressed the importance of significant new investments in services like local attendance support teams, children’s social care, mental health services, and special needs provision to address the root causes of children missing out on education. The EPI’s report sheds light on a national crisis that demands immediate attention and concerted efforts to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
As a parent myself, this issue hits close to home. Ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive is not just a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative. Let’s come together as a community to support these vulnerable children and ensure that they have the chance to reach their full potential.