Children Missing from Education

This chapter concerns school age children who do not have a school place and for whom no alternative arrangements have been made.

It does not apply to:

• Children who have a school place which they do not attend regularly;
• Children who are being home educated;
• Children who are in temporary provision such as a Pupil Referral Unit.

Click here to view the Children Missing from Education (CME) Referral form

Please also read in conjunction with PGN entitled Child Out Of School (2021) - HCC (hertfordshire.gov.uk) providing guidance to ensure that Children's Social Workers and other practitioners are aware of the range of children that may not be in school, definitions of various terms and the Local (education) Authority's responsibilities.

In January 2015, revised statutory guidance was issued to Local Authorities relating to Children Missing from Education. Hertfordshire has developed local guidance for staff within the authority, from schools and from partner agencies which sets out what staff should do when a child believed to be missing from education comes to their attention.

See the Hertfordshire procedures regarding Children Missing from Education (CSF4706).

For further information, please also see the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children's Partnership Procedures, Children and Young People Who Go Missing form Home or Care, or Who are Vulnerable to Exploitation.

This chapter is currently under review.