Children-missing-education safeguarding escalation policy

This policy applies conditionally to maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England when staff have concerns about a child's safety or welfare, including concerns connected with missing education. It should be applied with the circumstances of the individual child and the local child-protection procedures in force for the school.

Immediate action

Where there is a concern that a child's safety or wellbeing is at risk, staff must act without delay. Staff must take immediate action under [child protection policy name], involving the designated safeguarding lead or the person acting in that role, [designated safeguarding lead role].

A concern that a child may be missing education must not prevent staff from responding to any safeguarding concern about the child's welfare. The response must follow [local child protection procedure name] where abuse, neglect or exploitation is suspected.

Designated safeguarding lead involvement

Staff must promptly pass safeguarding concerns to the designated safeguarding lead. The designated safeguarding lead and relevant staff must immediately consider whether a referral to local authority children's social care is needed.

The decision must reflect the circumstances of the individual child and the applicable local child-protection procedures. Where a referral is made, include information available about the child's developmental needs, the capacity of the child's parents, carers or family network to meet those needs, and external factors that may be undermining that capacity.

An early help assessment is not a prerequisite for a referral to local authority children's social care. Where an early help assessment has already been undertaken, it should be used to support the referral.

Immediate danger or risk of harm

If the child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, make an immediate referral to local authority children's social care and contact the police where appropriate using [police contact route].

Where there is concern that the child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, contact the police where appropriate. If there is reason to suspect that a crime has been committed, involve the police.

Referral decisions

Where a referral is not made, the designated safeguarding lead must ensure that the decision is consistent with the child's circumstances and [local child protection procedure name]. Where further safeguarding concerns arise, staff must act without delay and reconsider whether referral to local authority children's social care or contact with the police is needed.

Roles and local arrangements

The designated safeguarding lead is [designated safeguarding lead role]. The local route for referral to children's social care is [children social care referral route]. Staff must use these arrangements together with [child protection policy name] and [local child protection procedure name] when applying this policy.