5.10 Children Missing from Education or with Poor School Attendance |
For detailed guidance see Revised Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities in England to identify children not receiving a suitable education, published in January 2009, which can be found at: Department for Education website.
Contents
1. Definition
Children who are absent from education covers both children who are on a school roll but who have irregular attendance and also, children who are missing from education.
'Irregular attendance' covers all children who are on school rolls but due to their poor attendance, concerns exist about their absence.
Children missing from education (CME) refers to all children of compulsory school age who are not on a school roll or receiving education otherwise than at school, i.e.via elective home education.
The Named CME Officer is responsible for receiving details of children missing from education and for brokering support for them through the most appropriate agencies. See Local Contacts for the details for this officer in each authority.
2. Required Action
2.1 By Schools
In relation to children missing from education, schools can expect to be contacted by other schools and staff from other Local Authorities (LA) when children who have left their schools, who have been removed from roll, start school elsewhere and the new school or LA need to confirm details and/or request the child's file.
In relation to children who leave a school where the new school details are not known, these children must be referred to the LA within 10 days of the last day of attendance. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 must be adhered to in relation to removing any such child from the school roll.
In relation to children who have irregular attendance, all schools must follow the advice of the LA and refer in line with guidance.
2.2 By Other Agencies
In relation to irregular attendance, other agencies may have a role to play in providing support to remove barriers to attendance. In relation to CME, other agencies who come across a child who appears not to be in education should inform the named CME officer for the LA in which the child resides.
2.3 By the Pupil Named CME Officer
The Named CME Officer is responsible for over-seeing the casework that is undertaken to locate any child who is deemed to be a child missing from education, casework includes home visits, making contact with Children's Social Care services and Housing as necessary, the aim being to ensure their wellbeing and that they return to education as quickly as possible. In some cases, the child will be located elsewhere in education and is no longer deemed to be a CME case. The child is then subject to processes for children with poor attendance.
3. Records and Notifications of Children Missing from Education
Where a child on a school roll is not attending that school, where their location is not known (ie missing with their family), the child may only be removed from the register in accordance with criteria stated in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. A child who is missing may only be removed from roll when the child has been continuously absent for 20 school days and where the LA have failed after reasonable enquiry to locate the child.
In these cases, the child's name is kept on a centrally held register, and should be clearly identified as missing from education.
Where a child's name has been removed from a school roll, but where the child has not been located, the Head Teacher should arrange for the child's records to be retained until the child is located. They may be held centrally according to local agreements.
Where a parent has notified a school that their child is now receiving education otherwise than at school, the school remove the child from roll and inform the LA. One exception to this is where the child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN). In this case the Local Authority must be consulted about how the child's needs will be met prior to removal from roll.
If a school receives a new pupil without receiving information from the previous school in another LA, the school should contact the previous LA (via School Admissions or the Named CME Officer) to obtain the child's records.
Where an LA becomes aware that a child has moved to a school in another LA, they should ensure that all relevant agencies are informed and arrangements are made to forward records from the previous school.
Each LA has its own local procedures on CME cases and children with irregular school attendance will are available on their websites.
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