The Government has placed a duty on local authorities to make arrangements to establish (so far as it is possible to do so) the identities of children in their area who are of compulsory school age and not receiving a suitable education. These children are referred to as Children Missing Education.
Children of compulsory school age who are:
- Not on a school roll
- Not being educated other than at school
- Identified as having been out of any educational provision for a substantial period of time (4 weeks)
Children go missing from education for a number of reasons including:
- They don’t start school at the appropriate time and so they do not enter the educational system;
- They are removed by their parents
- Behaviour and/or attendance difficulties
- They cease to attend, due to exclusion, illness or bullying
- They fail to find a suitable school place after moving to a new area
- The family move home regularly
- Problems at home
The law requires all children between the ages of 5 & 16 to be in full time education
Children who are not in school could be missing out on vital educational and social opportunities and experiences. Some of them may be at risk of harm or be in situations that are unsafe.
Children who are not in school are at greater risk of involvement in criminal activity and becoming victims of crime themselves. There is also a higher risk that these children will be victims of abuse.
Bath & North East Somerset’s Children’s Service are keen for you to tell us about these children so that we can make sure that they are safe and that they receive an appropriate education.
If you are aware of children who are not either in school or receiving education at home then please contact us. You can do this confidentially either by phone, letter or e-mail.
Please also tell us if you have any concerns about children who have gone missing from your area or neighbourhood.
Someone will then make contact with the family and children to make sure that they are safe and to arrange for some appropriate education.
If the children need some support to help them get back into school this will be provided.
Although the vast majority of children are located and returned to education, we will work with other agencies such as the Police if we cannot trace a child quickly.
Where children go missing from the Bath & North East Somerset area we will use the national missing children database to inform other parts of the country that there may be children new to their area in need of educational support.
Bristol - 0117 9223169
South Gloucestershire - 01454 868405
North Somerset - 01934 426444
Somerset - 01823 355658
Wiltshire - 01225 713010