School Children Missing Education Safeguarding Decision and Referral Record

Record the child's legal or commonly used full name in accordance with school records.

Record the school name and the internal reference or pupil number used to identify this record.

Use the date recorded in school records.

Record the child's current year group or education stage.

Record the date on which the missing education, unexplained absence, or associated safeguarding concern was identified.

Record the number of days relevant to this concern. Use 0 where the concern does not relate to recorded absence.

Select all applicable sources of information.

Record factual information about the child's education status, absence, whereabouts if known, welfare concerns, and any suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other safeguarding issue. Do not include assumptions as facts.

Select the current recorded assessment. If yes, take immediate action under the school's child protection policy and record the referral or contact below.

Select the highest level supported by the information currently available.

Record how the designated safeguarding lead was involved. If the designated safeguarding lead was unavailable, record the safeguarding lead or senior member of staff who acted.

Record the name and role of the designated safeguarding lead, deputy, or other staff member who made or reviewed the safeguarding decision.

Record the date on which the concern was considered and the referral decision was made.

Select one decision. Complete the relevant referral details if a referral or police contact was made, and record the rationale if no referral was made.

Complete if a referral or police contact was made. Record the date and time of the first relevant contact.

Complete if a referral or contact was made. Record the agency or service contacted, contact method, contact person if provided, and any reference number.

Complete if a referral or contact was made. Summarise the factual information shared, the child's immediate circumstances, known risks, and actions requested or advised.

Complete where no referral or police contact was made at this stage. Record the information considered, why a referral was not made, any consultation undertaken, and what would trigger reconsideration.

Record actions already taken and actions still required under the school's child protection policy, including attempts to establish the child's safety and any protective measures.

Record contact attempted or made, the date and outcome, and any reason why contacting a parent or carer was not appropriate or was delayed. Do not contact a parent or carer if doing so could increase risk, unless advised under relevant safeguarding procedures.

Record the response received from children's social care, the police, or another relevant service; any handover made; outstanding actions; and the child's current known education or safeguarding status. Complete with the information available at the time of recording.

Record the date for reviewing outstanding actions or reconsidering the safeguarding decision. Use the relevant safeguarding procedure where immediate or urgent review is required.

Record the name and role of the person completing this form.

Record the date of the latest entry in this record.

Confirm that the relevant school child protection and safeguarding procedures were considered when responding to this concern.

• Tick when complete