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CHILDREN MISSING FROM EDUCATION CME (SCOTLAND) LEAFLET

Children missing from education:

• are of school age but not on a school roll or being educated otherwise (at home, privately or in an alternative provision). They have usually not attended school for a period of time.
• may be in need of help or support but are unable to access it. Children not in school may not have had their needs identified and there may be no-one actively connecting them to services.
• may be missing important experiences and opportunities to gain knowledge and skills. Schools provide more than subjects, they provide social opportunities, practical skills and practice for life.
• may be isolated from other children and adults who can help them.

If there is a child of school age who you feel may be missing from school education and without any arrangement for their support and learning, act now.

Children have the right to receive an education.

What you can do to help children missing from education:

• record basic information about children you are working with such as their name, address, age and the name of their primary carer. Remember to include the name of their school. If the child is of school age and not enrolled in a school, contact the local authority.
• be aware of families who relocate regularly and keep in contact with them. Discuss and record details of any proposed moves.
• if a child is deemed to be missing, carry out a local search involving a range of agencies.
• if you have any concern about the safety or well-being of a child, follow the local child protection procedures.
• help others to search for missing children by checking your databases and sharing information.

Children missing from education may need your help.

CME (Scotland)

This project is a national co-ordinating body to help Children's Services find children who have disappeared from view. If a local search proves unsuccessful, the project team will follow up with a wider search across Scotland and other areas of the UK to locate the child.

Once found, relevant information will be shared to allow appropriate contact and services to be put in place for the child.

CME (Scotland) will assist local authorities and schools to track information where needed. Where specific confidentiality is required the team will make anonymous any records so that relevant information can be shared.

The project will aim to support, advise and provide training for local authority and school staff regarding issues around children missing or at risk of becoming missing from education.

CME (Scotland)

• support children to keep them safe and well
• support children's rights to education
• support inclusion
• promote multi-agency Working
• support accurate transfer of information
• respect individual circumstances

For further information please contact

Tel: 0131 260 5352
Fax: 0131 260 5379
Email:cmescotland@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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