Children missing education identification, referral and liaison procedure

This procedure applies conditionally to maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. The individual circumstances of each case and the applicable local process must be considered.

1. Principles and responsibilities

The school should have regard to the statutory guidance on children missing education as part of its efforts to promote the welfare of children. The school should be able to demonstrate that it has considered the guidance and should record reasonable grounds for any material departure from it.

Everyone involved in identifying or supporting children missing education should identify concerns, share relevant information and take prompt action. The approach must remain child-centred and reflect the individual child's circumstances.

2. Identify the concern

When a pupil on the school roll has an unexpected and unexplained absence, the relevant member of staff should promptly begin enquiries to establish the pupil's whereabouts. The school should have arrangements for promptly investigating every unexpected and unexplained absence.

Record the absence, the enquiries made, the information obtained, decisions taken and the circumstances of the pupil and family that informed those decisions.

2.1 Immediate danger or risk of harm

If there is reason to believe that the pupil is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, make a referral to children’s social care and to the police where appropriate. Record the concern, the referral, the recipient and the action taken.

3. Establish whether the pupil is likely to return

Use the enquiries to establish whether the pupil is expected to continue attending the school or is reasonably believed unlikely to return. Check whether the parent has provided written notice that the pupil will attend another school or that education otherwise than at a school will be provided.

Where the school reasonably believes that the pupil will no longer attend and no qualifying written notice has been received, refer the case to the pupil's home local authority CME team as soon as possible.

Make the referral through [local cme referral route] and identify the pupil's home local authority as [home local authority name]. Record the basis for the referral, the date, the recipient and any written notice received.

4. Continue enquiries after referral

After making a suspected CME referral, continue reasonable enquiries to establish the pupil's whereabouts. Maintain regular communication with the relevant local authority while enquiries continue.

Continue this liaison until enquiries have concluded or the school and the local authority mutually agree that the school has no further action to take. Record the case chronology, continuing enquiries, communications, information shared and the agreed next action or closure position.

5. Local processes and reintegration

Know and follow the applicable local authority processes for identifying children missing education, making referrals and supporting reintegration into suitable education. Relevant staff should have access to the current process and agreed communication routes.

Where reintegration is applicable, liaise with the relevant local authority team in accordance with the local process and record the liaison and agreed actions.

6. Information sharing and records

Work closely with the local authority to support early identification and tracking of suspected CME. Share relevant updates after notifying the local authority, including information that assists in identifying, locating or supporting the pupil.

Document action taken on each case. Record the information shared, the recipient, the date, the purpose of sharing and any confidentiality or data-sharing decision made by the school.

7. Departure from this procedure

If a material departure from the statutory guidance or this procedure is considered, document the individual circumstances and the reasonable grounds for the departure. The decision must remain child-centred and reflect the circumstances of the case.