Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 March 2009. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Children in Care: Truancy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of school pupils who are children in care have been classed as persistent absentees in each of the last five years.

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, Twelve 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 the absence from school for looked after children was first collected in 2000, figures for earlier years are also published on the Department's website and can be found via the following links:Figures for 2002 to 2004 are available in volume reference (03/2005) here:"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000580/index.shtml"Figures for 2000-01 are available in volume reference (DH/VOL(OUT)01) here:"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000523/index.shtml"

Secondary information