Children missing education
Every child, regardless of their circumstances, is entitled to an efficient, full-time education which is suitable to -
- their age
- their level of ability
- personal aptitude
- any special educational needs they may have
Children Missing Education (CME) are children of compulsory school age who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school.
CME includes children who -
- are in the process of applying for a school place
- have been offered a school place for a future date but have not yet started
- are receiving elective home education (EHE) that has been assessed as unsuitable
- have been recorded as CME for an extended period, for example where their whereabouts is unclear or unknown
Compulsory school age begins on the first day of term following the child’s fifth birthday, and it ends on the last Friday in June in the school year in which the child reaches 16 years of age.
Children missing education are at significant risk of -
- underachieving in education
- becoming victims of harm
- exploitation
- radicalisation
- becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) later in life
The Education Welfare Service accepts CME referrals from schools, other Local Authorities and outside agencies, for example Health.
Anyone with a concern that a child is missing education is encouraged to refer their concerns to our service.
The role of the Local Authority
Under section 436A of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a legal duty to establish the identities of children in their area who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise.
In Hull, the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable children are paramount. If you have concerns about a child missing education, complete the child missing education referral form.
The role of schools
If a child goes missing from education, the child’s school has a responsibility to make enquiries to find out where they are.
Schools must enter pupils on the admission register at the beginning of the first day on which the school has agreed, or been notified, that the pupil will attend the school. If a pupil fails to attend on the agreed or notified date, the school should undertake reasonable enquiries to establish the child’s whereabouts. They should consider notifying the local authority as soon as possible.
Schools must monitor pupils’ attendance with a daily register.
Where a pupil is deemed as missing from education, schools in the first 1 to 5 days should start making reasonable enquiries, as set out in the Working Together to Improve School Attendance Guidance. If the checks prove unsuccessful in establishing the whereabouts of the child, a CME referral can be submitted to the Local Authority.