- If you have concerns for a child’s welfare, please call the Cambridgeshire County Council Contact Centre on 0345 045 5203.
- If you believe a child is missing from education, please complete the online form. This referral will remain anonymous to the family.
- Cambridgeshire schools: Please do not use this form to refer a child to the local authority. Continue to use the ‘LA Request for Intervention Form’ on the Learn Together CME referrals forms page.
Please note: that the local authority cannot respond with any outcome of the investigations.
What 'missing from education' means
A child is missing from education when they are of compulsory school age of 5 to 16 years old and:
- not registered on a school roll
- not attending an alternate education provision
A child is not missing from education if they are:
- being Electively Home Educated (EHE)
- registered on a school roll and their whereabouts known, but not attending school
A child may become missing from education when:
- they failed to start in Reception Year at a school
- they did not transfer from one school to another. For example, when moved to / from another local authority area
- they failed to transfer into a secondary or middle school
- they have been permanently excluded from school
- they have failed to register in a school after travelling/living overseas
- their parent fails to provide sufficient information to enable the local authority to determine that an education suitable to the age, aptitude and life chances for the child is in place.
Parent's responsibility
Your child may become missing from education, if you do not inform your child’s school or the local authority when you:
- Move: you need to provide a new address and/or school
- Emigrate: you need to provide a new address and if possible your child’s new school
- Decide to Electively Home Educate (EHE): In the first instance discuss with your child’s school (if they are on a school roll). Please register with the local authority as EHE and notify us if you move. Contact: electivehome.education@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
- Privately Educate: provide your child’s last school with the name of their new school
- Are actively travelling for business as part of the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller community. To avoid being missing from education, you will need to provide a return date
School Attendance Order (SAO)
Every local authority has a legal obligation to make sure that children of statutory school age receive a suitable education. This applies from the term following a child’s fifth birthday up until the last Friday in June of Year 11. The education must be suitable for the child's age, ability and aptitude. It must also take into account any special educational needs that the child may have.
The local authority will offer support to the parents to assist in identifying suitable education. If however, following support, advice and guidance a child remains out of education, then the local authority has a legal obligation as set out in the Education Act 1996, to consider a School Attendance Order.
A School Attendance Order (SAO) is a formal legal document issued by a local authority under Section 437 of the Education Act 1996. It requires a parent to register their child of compulsory school age at the school named in the order.
Contact
The Children Missing Education (CME) Team ensures that Cambridgeshire County Council fulfils its statutory responsibilities to identify children missing from education and respond accordingly. The local authority aims are to ensure that all children receive an education.
Email: CME@Cambridgeshire.gov.uk
