Children missing education

Children missing education (CME) is the term used to describe children of compulsory school age children who:

• are not on a school roll and are not being educated in another way (for example at home, privately, or in alternative provision)
• have been out of any educational provision for a substantial period of time and we do not know their whereabouts 

Why this happens

There are many reasons why children and young people fall out of the education system and are at risk of 'going missing'. These range from failing to start in a new school or appropriate education provision to simply not re-registering at a new school when they move into the area.

What you can do to help

If you know or suspect a child is missing from education, please Contact Missing Education straight away. Checks are always carried out before contacting parents or carers, so it is always better to advise us if you are in any doubt. All information will be held confidentially and securely.