Children Missing in Education
Definition:
To give a clear differentiation between missing from school and missing from education (unexplained absence). The definition of a missing person from the National Missing Person Framework. A missing person is anyone whose whereabouts are unknown and:
- Where the circumstances are out of character; or
- The context suggests the person may be subject to crime; or
- The person is at risk of harm to themselves or another.
Children missing from education are children and young people of compulsory school age who are:
- Children missing from education are children and young people of compulsory school age who are not on a school roll and not being educated otherwise (at home, privately or in an alternative provision).
- An enrolled child or young person have usually not attended school for a period of time (up to four weeks, but substantially less for a child with welfare concerns).
The most important factor for any missing child is safety. Should there be any concern that the child may be at risk, it is essential that local child protection procedures are followed.
When to start the CME process?
The CME Procedure is for missing children only – those whose whereabouts are not known. For truancy/absence issues Attendance at School should be followed.
Staff who have built up a relationship with children or their families can be a key resource in locating families and in providing invaluable insight and information.
There should be a collaborative approach, initially led by Child Protection Coordinator and in conjunction with the member of staff fulfilling the named person role within the school.
Where there are significant concerns about wellbeing, Police Scotland should be involved in establishing the child’s whereabouts.
Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
The Scottish Government Children Missing in Education process applies to school age children only.
Although it is not mandatory for children to attend an ELC setting, if CME concerns are raised regarding a child, then these should be treated with the same diligence as for school age children.
A priority action must be to contact the child’s Named Person in Health and share information and concerns. Where there are child protection concerns, contact should be made with the Child Protection and Duty Team or the allocated Social Worker.
Who should start the CME process?
When all checks have been made, and the child has not been located and there are no safeguarding or child protection concerns the CME Toolkit (within the CME Guidance 2015) should be followed.
Chronologies:
Ensure that latest pastoral notes are recorded as significant events on SEEMiS and that any documentation is uploaded on to wellbeing.
Further Guidance:
