Responding to levelling up secretary Michael Gove's suggestion that parents who fail to ensure their children attend school regularly could lose their child benefit, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union 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.”