What do we mean by 'children missing education' (CME)?
By it we mean all children of compulsory school age who are neither on a school roll nor being educated otherwise (at home, privately or in alternative provision) and who have been out of any educational provision for a substantial period of time (usually agreed as four weeks or more).
Why do children go missing from education?
There are a number of reasons, including:
- They fail to start appropriate provision and hence never enter the system
- They cease to attend, due to exclusion (for example illegal unofficial exclusions) or withdrawal
- They fail to complete a transition between providers being unable to find a suitable school place after moving to a new local authority
- Personal factors, such as disengagement or disenchantment by parents and pupils
- Transience/family mobility
- Family problems
Local responsibilities
All local authorities now have a designated person responsible for receiving details of children found missing from education and for brokering support for them through the most appropriate agencies.
Please notify the Education Welfare Service by completing a Request for Single Service Form (see the 'Do it now' section on this page), fax 01454 863263 with information, telephone 01454 863377 or email:
Named officer: Sue Bowers - sue.bowers@southglos.gov.uk or
Admin officer: Janet Pellow - janet.pellow@southglos.gov.uk