A Conservative government would legislate for a register of children not in school to bring down the number of pupils who are persistently absent.
The party’s manifesto said it wanted to ensure that all children – including those who are home schooled – receive a “high-quality education”.
Council bosses and education unions have been calling for a register, but many home educators oppose this as they fear it could lead to greater interference.
The Conservative manifesto, published on Tuesday, acknowledged that fewer children have been attending school due to the legacy of Covid-19.
It said: “We will continue to work with schools and local authorities to improve school attendance, including through more mental health support, building on our plan that is working – there were 440,000 fewer children persistently absent last year compared to the year before.
“And to ensure all children are getting a high-quality education, including those who are home schooled, we will legislate to create a register of children not in school.”
More than a fifth (21.2%) of pupils in…
