Children Missing from Education (CME)
What do we mean by Children Missing from Education
(CME)?
All children of compulsory school age (5-16 years) who are not
on a school roll, being educated otherwise (e.g. at home,
privately, or in alternative provision) and who have been out of
educational provision for a substantial period of time (usually
agreed as four weeks or more).
Why do children go missing from education?
There are a number of reasons, including:
- they don't start school at the appropriate time and so they do
not enter the educational system
- they are removed by their parents due to problems at school,
disinterest or poor attendance
- they cease to attend due to exclusion, illness or bullying
- they fail to find a suitable school place after moving to a new
area
- the family move home regularly
- there are problems at home
What to do if you are concerned?
If you are aware of children who are either not in
school or receiving education at home then please contact us. You
can do this either by phone or by filling out the
referral form. Details of how to contact us can be found at the
bottom of this page.
What will happen when you report a
concern?
We will check to see if they are on roll with schools. If they
are not then someone will visit the family and arrange appropriate
education for the children. If the family needs some support to
help them get back into school, this will be provided. When
children have gone missing from the area we will use the national
network of children missing from education coordinators to enquire
whether they have arrived safely in a new school.
To report a child missing education please contact us by one of
the following methods:
Please complete the
referral form and email to cme@kent.gov.uk or alternatively
post it to:
Attendance and Behaviour Service
Children Missing Education
Room 2.05
Sessions House
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 1XQ
You can contact the team on 08458 247247 and ask for the
Children Missing Education team.