“The rise in the number of pupils missing from education is extremely worrying and a register of children not in school is long overdue to ensure their safety and wellbeing. We also need to provide better support for disadvantaged pupils and other groups of children most at risk of missing education. This will require investment to tackle child poverty and build up the capacity of mental health services.
“All children deserve access to a good education and we cannot allow so many to continue missing out on the benefits this brings.”