Report children missing education

This form is:

• for members of the public and professionals working with children outside of schools
• for other local authorities reporting a child who has moved to Portsmouth and may be missing education
• not for reporting children who are enrolled but not attending school

Children missing education (CME) are children who are:

• of compulsory school age
• not registered pupils at a school, and
• not receiving suitable education in another setting (either privately or at home)

Reasons why children go missing from education can include:

• not starting school at the right time, meaning they don’t enter the education system
• being removed from school by their parents due to problems at school, disinterest, or poor attendance
• stopping their education due to exclusion, illness or bullying
• not finding a suitable school place after moving to a new area
• personal circumstances (for example if the family is homeless and they are living in temporary accommodation or a refuge, or if there are long term medical or emotional problems)

We have a duty to identify children missing from education in Portsmouth where possible.

In Portsmouth, our school attendance team has a legal responsibility for monitoring and tracking children who are missing from education (CME).

Following a referral, the CME officers will:

• carry out investigations into the case,
• check if a school application has been completed,
• attempt to make contact with the family, and
• liaise with other agencies such as health, housing, education, police, social care, benefit agencies and other councils as appropriate.

This allows them to gather information on the whereabouts of the child and to work in partnership to engage the parent.

If you are aware of a child missing education, you can report it online. This referral should be completed by members of the public and other professionals working with children outside of school. Portsmouth schools should continue to use our online portal.

Contact us

For more information, call 023 9284 1419 or email schoolattendanceteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.