HC Deb 10 June 1997 vol 295 c368W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children who are currently of school age are not attending any school. [2762]

Ms Estelle Morris

As of January 1996, local education authorities in England were arranging education otherwise than at school for 19,133 children of compulsory school age. Included in this total were 1,011 non-statemented children in hospital and 11,055 children attending Pupil Referral Units. Data for January 1997 are not yet available. The Department does not collect information on the number of children whose parents arrange education outside of the school system, as is permitted in law: but it has been estimated that some 10,000 children are educated in this manner.

I am replying separately on the question of Traveller children not attending school.