Part of Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Committee (9th Day) (Continued) – in the House of Lords at 6:00 pm on 2 September 2025.
Baroness Barran
Shadow Minister (Education)
6:00,
2 September 2025
My Lords, this group includes a series of amendments, including several from my noble friends Lord Lucas and Lord Wei, on the Government’s proposed approach to school attendance orders.
His Majesty’s loyal Opposition believe it is important that local authorities are able to hold parents to account who are either not ensuring that their child attends school daily or not providing a suitable education at home. I appreciate some of the concerns that this could be seen as punitive by some families. Equally, if exceptions were introduced into the legislation, I worry that it would create a different risk, with inconsistent practice which is perceived to be unfair and could well be challenged in the courts.
I think, if I may say so, that the amendments to which the noble Lord, Lord Storey, referred are actually in the next group. I appreciate that, with so many amendments today, it is hard to keep track.
I turn to the risk of creating inconsistencies in the application of the legislation—I am thinking, for example, of Amendments 334 to 337 in the names of my noble friend Lord Lucas and the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb, and Amendments 372 to 374 and Amendment 392 in the name of my noble friend Lord Wei. While I understand that the Majority of the amendments in this group are probing amendments, I hope the Minister can reassure noble Lords who have tabled them that they are not necessary. I would be interested in whether she agrees with me that they could potentially create a different risk. On these Benches, we believe that Clauses 32 and 35 should stand part of the Bill.
With regard to the revised, shortened amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Hacking, there is an important balance to be struck. Of course one can argue about timing and the number of days, but, if a child is not getting any education, it is incredibly important that this is addressed in the most timely way possible.
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