Briefing: Crib sheet - Children missing education

Do all children have a right to education? In simple terms, English lawplaces a duty on the secretary of state to promote education; on localeducation authorities to secure efficient education to satisfy the needsof the local population, and to do so by establishing, maintaining orassisting schools; and on parents to ensure that their child receives aneducation.

So what happens if a child isn't enrolled in a school? Parents canchoose to educate their children at home. But there are children who aremore vulnerable to missing out - those in public care or who areprivately fostered, Travellers, young offenders, asylum-seekingchildren, young carers, young runaways, and children of homelessfamilies - and have complex needs. They may have become lost to theeducation system, are only known to services outside the system, or areadministratively ignored, such as pupils who are excluded, on extendedunauthorised absence, or who are unable to find alternativeprovision.