Children missing education
The government is concerned about any child missing education, as it is not just children's educational attainment that is put at risk, but also potentially their safety and welfare. That is why the Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a statutory duty on all local authorities to make arrangements to identify children missing education in their area (part 1, section 4). The duty came into force on 27 February 2007.
The statutory guidance to support the duty, which is available below, reflects practices that local authorities have already found to be effective for identifying children missing education.
Children missing education are defined as children of compulsory school age who are not on a school roll and who are not receiving a suitable education otherwise, such as at home, privately, or in alternative provision.
The overall aim of work at national and local level is to ensure that fewer children drop out of education, and those that do are drawn back and engaged quickly with lasting success.
Documents
Statutory
Guidance for Local Authorities in England to Identify Children not Receiving
Education (February 2007)
Children
Missing Education: Experiences of Implementing the DfES
Guidelines (September 2006)
Integrated
working factsheets
Cross-cutting information on integrated working, including a factsheet on
children missing education.
This page was last updated on 27 February 2007
