Management Information Sheet

Norfolk Children Missing Education Policy

MI Sheet TypeInformation
MI Number:64/19
Publication Date:03/05/2019 12:00:00
LA Contact:Claire Farrelly (01603 307767)
Audience:All staff responsible for pupil regististration and children missing education

Norfolk Children Missing Education Policy

Children Missing Education statutory guidance outlines all schools and local authority responsibilities to prevent children becoming missing from education and identify children who are missing education. The statutory regulations apply to all schools, both state funded and independent.

The Norfolk Children Missing Education policy and associated documents have been finalised following the responses provided during the consultation. Thank you to those who provided feedback and please ensure that your school is using the correct documentation.

Summary subsequent changes to the policy and forms following feedback:

  • Redesign of the off-roll notification form.
  • The submission of forms for on and off roll notification will be reviewed following the introduction of schools' MI systems sharing off statutory data with NCC to see where administrative burden can be reduced and streamlined.
  • Allowance for independent schools to submit bulk on and off roll notification information via documents generated by their MI systems providing required information is included.
  • Clarification that the requirement for LA agreement to parental wish to electively home educate their child who holds an ECHP naming a special school, also applies to independent special schools.

The introduction of the 'possible pupil missing education' telephone consultation line (01603 307767), has improved collaborative working to locate pupils who may be missing prior to removal from roll and reducing the risks of children becoming missing from education. However, some schools are still unclear as to when to consider possible pupil missing education or follow school attendance procedures:

  • Where pupils fail to attend school, schools should undertake initial checks to ascertain the reason as to why the pupil has failed to attend.
  • Where the situation is one of non-attendance, schools should follow their school attendance procedures to address the absence issues.
  • Where there is evidence to suggest the pupil may be missing, schools should contact the Children Missing Education Team to undertake joint enquiries to establish the whereabouts of the pupil prior to removal from roll.
  • Consideration of the welfare and safety of the pupil must be paramount in either circumstance.

A series of briefings for school staff will be offered during the summer term. Details will follow in due course.

If you have any questions, please contact Claire Farrelly, Senior Children Missing Education Officer.