Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Thursday, 4 December 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 December 2008. It was answered by Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Labour) on Monday, 15 December 2008 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Truancy: Children in Care

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who were children in care took unauthorised absence in the last 12 months, broken down by national curriculum year group.

Answer: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release ““Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, 12 months to 30 September 2007—England”” (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml"Information on absence from school can be found in table A which shows the number who missed at least 25 days of school during the previous school year. The OC2 data collection is an aggregate data collection from local authorities and it is therefore not possible to provide this information broken down by national curriculum year group.

Secondary information