The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced to Parliament in December, includes plans for new registers to identify children who are not in school – something for which the LGA has lobbied for years.
The Government says this will help councils more easily deliver support and ensure such children are receiving a high-quality education.
The bill also introduces a unique identifier number for children across services, which will work in a similar way to how National Insurance numbers work for adults.
Councils will be able to consider proposals for all types of schools, not just academies, and will be given powers to ensure admissions decisions reflect local need.
Failing schools run by councils will also not be automatically forced to become an academy.
Cllr Arooj Shah, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “We are pleased government is acting on a long-standing call by the LGA for councils to have and maintain ‘children not in school’ registers.
“However this must be combined with powers for councils to meet face-to-face with children, which is vital to ensure children are receiving a suitable education in a safe environment.”