The Education and Inspection Act 2006 defines children of compulsory school age missing education when they are not on a school roll, and are not receiving a suitable education elsewhere, for example, at home, privately or in alternative provision.
Children can miss education for various reasons, if they -
- don’t start school at Reception age
- don’t transfer up to secondary school
- are excluded from school and don’t take up alternative provision
- parents who home educate children are found not to be providing a suitable education
- move to a different local authority or country
- arrive in the country via asylum, refugee status or as an EU national
If a child goes missing from education your child’s school has a responsibility to make enquiries to find out where they are. Parents or carers must inform the school if the child(ren) -
- move
- emigrate
- return late from a family holiday
- decide to home educate
- privately educate
Child(ren) are classed as a child missing education until you -
- inform the school that they are leaving
- explain why they have not returned to school
- explain what education provision they are to receive
To avoid your child(ren) being regarded as a child missing education -
- always give your child(ren)’s school your forwarding details and information on the new school if you migrate
- provide full details of the private school your child(ren) is to transfer to before they leave
- inform the school, in writing, if you decide to home educate your child(ren)
If you have concerns of child(ren) missing education please contact 01482 300 300 and they will report this to the department for you.
