Written question WQ94030
- Asked by
- Rhys ab OwenIndependent
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Education
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
Why doesn’t the Cabinet Secretary make it mandatory for parents or guardians to notify local authorities if their child is not receiving education at a school in the area, to ensure the children missing education database is as accurate as possible?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Education
The purpose of the Children Missing Education Database (Wales) Regulations is to help local authorities to identify children in their areas who may be missing education. A pilot for the database regulations will commence from March 2025 with a small number of local authorities.
An evaluation will be undertaken alongside the pilot, which will focus on the effectiveness of the database regulations in helping local authorities to identify children who may be missing education. The evaluation report will help inform whether separate measures, including a duty to notify local authorities if a child is not receiving education at a maintained school in the area, may be necessary.
A timetable for the evaluation, including a date for submission of a final report, will be agreed once researchers have been appointed to undertake the evaluation.