Children missing education (CME): procedures and policies

Last reviewed on 27 June 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 41724

Find out about the statutory requirements for school procedures on children missing education (CME), including monitoring attendance, admissions registers and making reasonable enquiries after a child is identified as missing. Read CME policies from primary, secondary and special schools.

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Contents

  1. Understand your attendance and registration requirements
  2. Know the types of pupils who are most at risk of going missing from education 
  3. You must make 'reasonable enquiries' for pupils who aren't attending
  4. You don't need a CME policy, but staff need to know about your CME procedures 
  5. See examples of policies from schools 
  6. Save time and stay compliant with The Key Safeguarding

The information in this article comes from guidance for local authorities (LAs) and schools on children missing education (CME) and Keeping Children Safe in Education. 

Understand your attendance and registration requirements

Know and follow your LA's procedures

Your LA has a duty to identify any pupil who is of compulsory school age and not receiving education.

Monitor attendance through your daily register

This includes:

  • Addressing poor or irregular attendance
  • Referring poor attendance to your LA
  • Investigating any unexplained absences as part of your wider safeguarding duties

Keep your admissions register accurate and up to date

Remind parents to inform you of any changes to their information. This will help you (and your LA) when enquiring about missing children.

The full name of the parent with whom the pupil will live The new address The date from when it's expected the

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