Number of children missing in education soars

39,200 children were reported as children missing education (CME) by their local authorities this autumn term, an increase of 6,200 children compared to the previous autumn term’s estimated 33,000 children missing education.

There were an estimated 149,900 CME at any point during 2023/2024, an increase of 28 per cent from 117,100 the year before.

CME are children of compulsory school age who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school. 

According to the government, CME are at significant risk of underachieving, being victims of harm, exploitation or radicalisation, and becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) later in life.

Local authorities have a legal duty to make arrangements to identify, as far as it is possible to do so, the identities of children in their area who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education. 

Children missing education include children who are awaiting a school place and children in receipt of unsuitable education, including those children local authorities are supporting to place into suitable education.

It does not include pupils who are receiving suitable elective home education or children who are registered pupils of a school but are persistently absent.

The collection from local authorities started in autumn 2022 and became mandatory in autumn 2024. The proportion of local authorities providing data reached 100 per cent for the first time in autumn 2024.

Therefore, the government noted that increases of reported CME are likely to be in part due to improvements in data quality and recording practices.

Responding to the data, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The worrying numbers of children missing in education demonstrate the importance of the government’s planned register of children not in school, including those who are home-educated, coming into effect as soon as possible.

“NAHT has long called for councils to be required to maintain an official register, because there is currently a danger of children becoming lost outside the system, with neither school nor local authority knowing where they are or what has happened to them.

“Where a child is not receiving a suitable education this not only creates concern for their learning but can also put children at increased risk of harm or exploitation.

“It’s also vital that families receive more support to address issues in their lives and help ensure children can engage in education – and that means far more investment in vital services underfunded under previous governments, like social care, mental health and special education needs.”