Children Missing Education (CME)
Children Missing Education (CME) are children of compulsory school age (5 to 16) who are:
- not registered at a school, and
- not receiving suitable education otherwise (for example, home education or alternative provision)
These children are at greater risk of:
- underachieving academically
- becoming victims of harm, exploitation, or radicalisation
- becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) later in life
Local Authority Responsibilities
Under Section 436A of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a legal duty to:
- identify children in their area who are not receiving education
- make arrangements to ensure these children are supported back into suitable education
This includes:
- making reasonable enquiries to locate children
- working with schools, health services, police, and other agencies
- keeping accurate records and tracking transitions between schools
Why it matters
Every child has the right to a good education. When a child is not in school and not learning elsewhere, they can:
- miss out on important learning and friendships
- be more vulnerable to exploitation or harm
- struggle to catch up later in life
How parents can help
You can help by:
- making sure your child is registered and attending school regularly
- letting the school know if you move or change contact details
- informing the school if your child is going to be absent for any reason
When to report a CME concern
You should contact the local authority if:
- a child has stopped attending school and their whereabouts are unknown
- you know a child who is not in school and not being educated at home
- a family has moved into the area but the child is not enrolled in a school
- a child is being withdrawn from school and no alternative education is confirmed
- you know a child who is not in school and not being educated at home
West Berkshire residents or professionals can report CME concerns by contacting the Education Attendance Team / CME Officer: cme@westberks.gov.uk.
Complete our CME online referral form here.
Further information
For more details, you can refer to the Department for Education's statutory guidance on CME.
