Children who are home-schooled will get their own unique tracking number under a new law aimed at protecting youngsters like Sara Sharif.

The system will help councils keep track of children who were previously caught in ‘blind spots’ when they were deregistered from school.

In future, all home-educated children must be recorded on a register with their local council, which will then generate an ID number.

This can then be used to track the child across education, health and social care, making sure they do not ‘fall through the cracks’.

Ministers are introducing the measure under new powers contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which cleared Parliament last week.

They acted swiftly after it was revealed that homeschooling was the cover for the killers of 10-year-old Sara Sharif.

Before now, parents have not had to register their child as home-educated and could just tell their school they were being withdrawn.

Children who were never enrolled at school would not have appeared on any register.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told The Times: ‘Knowing where children are and how they are being educated — especially when that’s outside the view of teachers, friends and other trusted adults — is the most basic safeguard.

‘And after a number of tragic cases in recent years, we know exactly what can happen when that basic line of sight is missing.’

Mrs Phillipson said the need for the register has become more important given the sharp rise in pupils being home-schooled.

Figures published by the Department for Education (DfE) show about 176,000 children were electively home educated at any time during the 2024-25 academic year, 23,000 more than the previous year.

Mrs Phillipson added: ‘New laws passed this week to create registers and stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks are a major milestone and long overdue.

‘Parents have a right to educate their children at home and many do a brilliant job, but the rise in the number choosing to do so makes registers all the more important.’

It is understood the new measures will be introduced by the end of this parliament.

For the first time, it will mean councils can identify every child not in school.

The Government is also introducing additional checks for some children before they can be removed from school for home education.

This would apply to those who are the most vulnerable or have complex needs that may be difficult to meet at home.

Councils will have a legal duty to support home-educating families by strengthening relationships and ensuring children’s needs are properly met.

During the trial of Sara’s killer father and stepmother, it was revealed they removed her from classes for homeschooling several months before she died in August 2023.

A DfE spokesman said: ‘Knowing where children are is a fundamental safeguard. The reforms close a longstanding blind spot by requiring parents to notify councils when they choose home education, enabling earlier support where needed.’

The department said there will be data protection safeguards for families fleeing domestic abuse.