Local authority support for children not in school is inadequate and is "doubly disadvantaging" children and young people in most need, education watchdog Ofsted warned last week.

Publishing a survey of the education of pupils out of school in 10 local education authorities, schools chief inspector David Bell said: "The level of support being offered to children is unacceptable and is reinforcing the disadvantages they already face through social exclusion," Bell said.

The survey finds that, despite pockets of good practice, schools and LEAs are failing to track pupils, to properly share information with partner agencies, and to analyse the impact of issues such as bullying.

"The quality of provision for children and young people out of school, their low attainment, the targeting and monitoring of provision, and the tracking of their progress is unsatisfactory," it concludes.