Contents
What do we mean by children missing from education?
Children of compulsory school age (5–16 years) who:
- Are not on a school roll,
- Are not receiving suitable education elsewhere (e.g., home education, private tuition, or alternative provision),
- And have been without access to education for a significant period (commonly four weeks or more).
The Law
Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 (inserted by the Education and Inspections Act 2006) requires Local Authorities (LAs) to:
“Make arrangements to enable them to establish, so far as possible, the identities of children in their area who are of compulsory school age but are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at school.”
Under the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024, schools must notify the LA whenever a pupil of compulsory school age is deleted from the admission register, except at standard transition points (unless the LA requests it).
Why is it important?
Children missing education are at increased risk of:
- Safeguarding concerns
- Poor academic outcomes
- Long-term negative impacts on life chances
Why do children go missing from school?
Common reasons include:
- Not starting school at the expected time
- Parents removing a child due to issues at school or poor attendance
- Difficulty securing a school place after moving
- Frequent family relocations
- Problems at home
What should school staff do?
If the child’s future destination is unknown or their whereabouts cannot be confirmed:
- Complete and submit a CME1 Referral Form to the Local Authority immediately.
- Treat CME as a safeguarding concern and follow your school’s safeguarding procedures.
Contact details:
If you have any queries, please contact:educate.educationchildrenmissingeducation-mailbox@devon.gov.uk