Responding to Labour's move today to use an Opposition Day Debate motion to bring forward legislation for a new register of children not on school rolls, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“It is disappointing that plans for this register seem to have been kicked into the long grass and legislation to bring this forward would be welcome.

"All education providers, as well as parents, should have a duty to provide information about children’s education to local authorities, enabling them to maintain an up-to-date register.

“School leaders are worried about potential safeguarding risks to children who are not in school and who could fall under the radar of schools and local authorities, becoming lost outside the system."