Part-time pupils are being 'failed' - Ofsted warns

Children in part-time education are being failed by local authorities, and risk becoming "invisible" - according to Ofsted.

The children concerned may have been permanently excluded, pregnant girls or young mothers, newly arrived migrants and children with mental health problems or long term illnesses.

Michael Cladingbowl, Ofested Director for Schools told BBC Radio 5 live's Breakfast: "These are children who ought to be getting as much education as they can because if they don't it will affect their life chances in ways that are really quite shocking."

A Department for Education spokesman welcomed the "increased focus" from Ofsted, insisting that all children are "entitled" to a good education, regardless of circumstance.