A child missing from education is a child of compulsory school age who is not on a school roll, nor being educated otherwise, i.e. privately or at home.  It is vitally important that we identify and report children who may be missing education, as these are children who are at risk and may be living a life of abuse.

 

In some cases, there is a reason why a child is not attending school. He or she might be home educated or they may have a problem such as school phobia, but it is important we identify these children and find out why.

 

The role of the Children Missing from Education Senior Officer (CMESO) is to raise awareness of this issue across Essex and ensure all professionals and the public, where appropriate, work together to safeguard vulnerable children so they receive an appropriate education.

 

All children have a right to a suitable education and to have that right protected. As part of Every Child Matters, all local authorities must have a named officer to track, monitor and trace all children within the county who are not receiving an education.

 

If you know or suspect a child is missing from education, please let the Children Missing from Education team know straight away.  You may remain anonymous and we will carry out checks prior to contacting parents or carers. Please complete a referral form online.  Alternatively you can call or email us.

 

By making a referral you are ensuring the safety and well-being for some of the most vulnerable children within our community. The longer a child misses out on education, the more problems they are likely to have, and the more difficult it can be to respond to their needs. 

 

When a referral is received we will attempt to trace the child though various databases held at Essex County Council, and liaise with appropriate agencies and professionals. If after following these checks, we are satisfied that an appropriate education is being received, we will take no further action and the case will be closed.  If no information is held about the child, we will contact the parents or carers to find out their proposals for the child’s education. If no satisfactory response is received within 5 working days, details of the child will be passed to an appropriate professional, normally within the Education Welfare Service, to arrange a home visit to the family and establish what provision is in place for the child.