Children Missing and Missing From Education
In 2019 84% of Key Stage 2 pupils who had 100% attendance achieved the expected standard, compared to 40% of pupils who were persistently absent across the key stage (GOV.UK)
Who are we talking about?
Children Missing From Education.
These are children who are registered to state funded or private school who are or at risk of experiencing poor attendance.
If a child is registered to a school and attending an Unregistered Setting they may also be considered a Child Missing Education.
Possible causes
- The child's health/ educational needs prevent them from attending school
- The child has a prolonged part-time timetable
- Breakdown in relationships with the school
- Bullying
- The child is a Young Carer
- Transport
- Term-Time Holidays
- Unlawful exclusions
Children Missing Education
This refers to any child who is not on the register of any Independent or State funded school and not in receipt of any other suitable education either arranged by the parent or Local Authority.
Children attending Unregistered Settings who are not registered to a school may be considered as a child Missing Education.
Possible causes:
- The child is new to an area and cannot find a school place.
- Local Authorities not being notified of deletions from registers
- Parents choose to home educate as their school placement has broken down but later decide it is not for them or they are not able to fulfil their child's needs independently.
- The child has been excluded from school and the local authority has not secured suitable provision or the parent declines the provision offered.
- Enforced Managed Moves/coercion to 'home educate'.
- Child is in an unsuitable unregistered setting
Local Authorities have a duty to identify children in their area who may not be receiving a suitable education either because they are not registered pupils at a school or because they are not receiving a suitable education other than at school (s436A Education Act 1996). Furthermore, when these children are identified urgent steps must be taken to ensure they are able to attend school successfully or where they are not alternative arrangements must be made.
There are similar provisions for children who are registered pupils at a school but who are not attending. Where it is not practicable to expect a child to attend school the Local Authority will have a duty to make suitable alternative arrangements. Where a Local Authority determines that the child should be in school then consideration must be given to enforcement; having regard to the Working Together to Improve School Attendance 2022.
When we are talking about Children Missing Education and those Missing From education it is important that we know which children we are talking about in order to provide the right support and take the right steps needed.
Parents will usually want the best for their children and will try to do everything they can to support them so it is not likely that children are missing out solely because of the parents intentions but instead because of the complexities of the education system and their child's needs.
Research tells us that missing just one day of learning can impact on a pupil's ability to achieve and attain good grades. Statutory Guidance continues to strengthen the role of schools, Local Authorities and other statutory and non-statutory services working with children to identify who these children may be or become and to ensure appropriate, timely and effective action is taken to return them to a suitable education; however, every child, school and Local Authority is different so although laws and guidance exists applying these must take into consideration the needs and circumstances of the child and always act in their best interest.
Schools and Local Authorities have specific duties to these children and will already be well established in supporting children not in school. It is therefore, important that any concerns about a child's education and welfare are raised with the child's Local Authority and where they are registered to a school,
the school in which they are expected to be attending as soon as possible.
If however, you feel that you are not progressing in the direction you feel you need to be going and your child is still not attending regularly or without suitable provision then get in touch to see how we can support you.
Working it out together
Parent and child support
- Support with the development of attendance improvement plans
- Ensuring arrangements in place are accessible and suitable
- Ensuring that you have all the information along the way to make informed decisions
- Parental advocacy
Whole School Approach
- Support with developing and Reviewing your Attendance Policy
- Support with developing Attendance Improvement Plans
- Analysing Attendance Data
- Advice and guidance on coding recording and reporting
- Monitoring of your Alternative Provision Arrangements
Local Authorities
Support with developing all policies and practices relating to attendance including
- Children Missing Education
- Elective Home Education
- Admissions and Fair Access
- Exclusions
- Alternative Provision
- SEN Support
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