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Children Missing in Education Policy



Introduction

LoveSpring Nursery School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in our care. We recognize that regular attendance is crucial for children's development and safety, and we have robust procedures to identify and respond when children may be missing education.

We serve children aged 6 months to 5 years at our Coventry location (CV1 5HA), and our approach to monitoring attendance and responding to concerns is tailored to the unique needs of early years provision.

1. Understanding Children Missing Education

Definition

Children missing education are those who are not on a nursery roll or receiving suitable education. In early years, this includes children who:

  • Fail to start their funded nursery place
  • Stop attending without explanation
  • Have irregular attendance patterns that concern us
  • Are withdrawn without notification of moving to another setting

1.1 Potential Risks

Children missing education can be vulnerable to various safeguarding concerns including:

Risk Category Examples Early Years Context
Safeguarding Concerns Abuse, neglect, exploitation Unexplained injuries, concerning parent behaviour, developmental regression
Family Circumstances Domestic violence, substance misuse, mental health issues Parental stress, inconsistent collection, concerning home environment
Cultural Factors Forced marriage, FGM, radicalisation Sudden withdrawal, family trips abroad, changes in family dynamics
Mobility Issues Frequent moves, homelessness, traveller families Inconsistent attendance, changing addresses, lack of stability

2. Prevention and Early Identification

2.1 Robust Admission Procedures

We prevent children from missing education through our comprehensive admission process:

  • Collection of multiple contact details and emergency contacts
  • Verification of home address and parental responsibility
  • Documentation of child's identity and medical needs
  • Regular updates of family contact information
  • Clear communication about attendance expectations

2.2 Daily Monitoring Systems

Monitoring Activity Frequency Responsible Person
Daily Registration Each session Room Leaders
Unexplained Absence Follow-up Same day Administrative Staff
Attendance Pattern Analysis Weekly Nursery Manager
Vulnerability Assessment Termly Safeguarding Lead

3. Response Procedures

3.1 Immediate Response to Unexplained Absence

Day 1: Unexplained Absence

  1. Morning Contact: Attempt to contact parents by 10:00 AM
  2. Multiple Methods: Try phone, mobile, emergency contacts
  3. Home Visit: If no contact by lunchtime, consider safe visit
  4. Assessment: Discuss concerns with Safeguarding Lead
  5. Recording: Document all contact attempts and outcomes

3.2 Escalation Process

Timeframe Actions Escalation Level
Day 1-2 Daily contact attempts, welfare checks, internal safeguarding discussion Internal Monitoring
Day 3-5 Formal letter, home visit, contact other known agencies Manager Involvement
Day 6-10 Multi-agency consultation, consideration of referral to local authority External Engagement
Day 10+ Formal Children Missing Education referral to local authority Statutory Intervention

4. Safeguarding Response

4.1 Immediate Referral Circumstances

We will make immediate referrals to children's social care and/or police when:

  • There are immediate safety concerns for the child
  • The child is subject to a Child Protection Plan
  • There are concerns about criminal activity or exploitation
  • The family is known to pose risks to children
  • There are concerns about forced marriage or FGM
  • The child has significant medical needs requiring regular treatment

4.2 Risk Assessment Factors

Assessment Area Key Questions Action Required
Child Vulnerability Age, SEND, medical needs, previous concerns Enhanced monitoring, multi-agency involvement
Family Circumstances Known issues, recent changes, parental capacity Family support referral, early help assessment
Attendance History Pattern of absence, previous unexplained absences Attendance support plan, legal interventions
Environmental Factors Home conditions, community risks, cultural concerns Safeguarding referral, community engagement

5. Transitions and Moves

5.1 Transfer Between Settings

We ensure smooth transitions and prevent children becoming missing through:

  • Immediate notification to local authority of any additions or deletions from our register
  • Sharing of relevant information with new settings (with parental consent)
  • Verification of new placement before removing from our register
  • Follow-up with families who indicate they are moving
  • Retention of records for children who leave unexpectedly

5.2 Record Transfer Protocol

When a child moves to another setting:

  1. Obtain details of new setting from parents
  2. Transfer learning journals and relevant records within 5 days
  3. Send safeguarding information confidentially to new setting's DSL
  4. Notify local authority of the move
  5. Confirm receipt of records with new setting

6. Staff Training and Awareness

6.1 Training Programme

Training Area Frequency Staff Groups
Attendance Monitoring Annually All Staff
Safeguarding Awareness Termly All Staff
Children Missing Education Annually Management Team
Cultural Competence Bi-annually All Staff

6.2 Staff Responsibilities

  • All Staff: Report concerns immediately, maintain accurate records
  • Room Leaders: Monitor daily attendance, notice patterns
  • Administrative Staff: Coordinate contact attempts, maintain records
  • Safeguarding Lead: Assess risks, make referrals, liaise with agencies
  • Nursery Manager: Oversee process, escalate concerns, ensure compliance

7. Partnership Working

7.1 Multi-Agency Collaboration

We work closely with other agencies to protect children:

Agency Role Contact Protocol
Local Authority Children Missing Education team, safeguarding Formal referral process, regular updates
Health Services Health visitors, GPs, community nurses Information sharing with consent, joint visits
Other Settings Local nurseries, childminders, schools Professional dialogue, record transfer
Police Child protection, missing persons Immediate contact for urgent concerns

7.2 Parent Partnership

  • Clear communication about attendance expectations
  • Support for families experiencing difficulties
  • Early intervention for attendance concerns
  • Confidential handling of sensitive information
  • Access to family support services when needed

8. Monitoring and Review

8.1 Regular Evaluation

Review Activity Frequency Outcome Measures
Attendance Analysis Weekly Reduction in unexplained absence
Case Review Monthly Effective resolution of concerns
Policy Compliance Termly Adherence to procedures
Full Policy Review Annual Updated practice, legal compliance

9. Emergency Contact Information

Nursery Manager: [Manager's Name] - 024 1234 5678

Designated Safeguarding Lead: [DSL's Name] - 024 1234 5679

Coventry Local Authority CME Team: 024 7683 1000

Children's Social Care: 024 7678 5555

Emergency Police: 999

Non-emergency Police: 101

Date of Policy: [Current Date]

Last Reviewed: [Current Date]

Next Review Due: [One year from current date]

Signed: _________________________

Position: Nursery Manager/Owner, LoveSpring Nursery School

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