The Department for Education has recently launched a Call for Evidence on Improving Support for Children Missing Education.
Children missing education (CME) are children of compulsory school age who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at school (for example, through elective home education).
This comprises a wide range of children, including some of the most vulnerable in England. CME are a tiny minority of England’s school-age children, but they must be identified and supported into education as quickly as possible to minimise the negative impact of missing education.
The government want to understand current best practice approaches and how local authorities, schools, and others can be empowered to further identify and support CME, ensuring that every child has an opportunity to an excellent education wherever they live and whatever their background.
Within the call for evidence on Improving Support for Children Missing Education, we are seeking the sector’s views regarding:
• best practice in identifying and supporting CME
• challenges faced in identifying and supporting CME
• how challenges in identifying and supporting CME could be addressed
The call for evidence will be open until 20th July: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-support-for-children-missing-education
We would encourage you to share your insights and experience with the government by responding to the call for evidence.
Please also share with others who may be interested in providing views.
Insight gathered through this call for evidence will inform future policy thinking and supplement the existing children missing education statutory guidance available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-missing-education
If you have any questions, please contact CME.CALLFOREVIDENCE@education.gov.uk