Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, Who is Losing Learning? Finding Solutions to the School Engagement Crisis, published on 18 March; and what steps they are taking to address the loss of engagement in education.

The department welcomes the recommendations from the Institute for Public Policy Research’s report and will take the findings into consideration. This government’s ambition is that all children and young people receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life, and we are taking action to realise this across the system.

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools. The department will drive a consistent and inclusive approach to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities through early identification, effective support, high quality teaching and effective allocation of resources. By prioritising early intervention and inclusive provision in mainstream settings, our ambition is to improve outcomes for this cohort across key measures including attainment, absence and sustained employment.

The department has expanded its attendance mentor programme to cover a total of 17 areas, with a £15 million investment, directly supporting pupils and their families with the barriers to attendance. Attendance is also one of the first national priorities of our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams.

Free breakfast clubs will also be offered in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils, supporting children’s attendance and attainment and enabling them to thrive academically and socially.