News

Analysis: Councils fail to track missing pupils

3 mins read
Figures obtained by Children & Young People Now have revealed vast differences in how councils identify children missing from education while many are unable to provide any numbers, despite a legal duty to do so. Nancy Rowntree reports.

Children missing from education are among the most vulnerable in society. To get these children back into the system and protect them from harm, it is crucial to be able to identify who and where they are.

As long ago as 2002, the government said local authorities should have "robust systems" in place by December 2005 to identify children missing from education. This was restated after the Children Act 2004. And in February this year a legal duty came into force under the Education and Inspections Act requiring local authorities to record how many children are missing from education. But out of the 50 councils in England that responded to a Children & Young People Now survey, nearly one in five (18 per cent) were unable to say how many children were missing from education in their area.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this

Hertfordshire Youth Workers

“Opportunities in districts teams and countywide”

Administration Apprentice

SE1 7JY, London (Greater)