Local authorities can notify us of Children Missing Education (CME) by emailing us as:
Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 (inserted by the Education and Inspections Act 2006), requires "all local education authorities to make arrangements to enable them to establish (so far as it is possible to do so) the identities of children in their area who are not receiving a suitable education".
Sandwell local authority "monitors the numbers of children/young people in the authority who are not receiving an education, including those new to the area or the country" (Revised Statutory guidance for local authorities in England to identify children not receiving a suitable education, July 2008).
Children Missing from Education (CME) in this document refers to all children of compulsory school age who are not on school roll, nor being educated otherwise (e.g. at home by parents or in alternative provision) and who have been out of any educational provision for a substantial period of time.
Sandwell Council acknowledges that one of the key responsibilities of the LA and its schools is to safeguard all the children resident in Sandwell or attending its schools. The best way for the LA and its schools to ensure the welfare of all children is to ensure that they are all on a school roll and that children do not disappear from school rolls and become 'missing'.
Sandwell local authority will embrace its statutory responsibilities by ensuring:
- That all pupils who go missing or are lost from schools in Sandwell and move to other areas are speedily located and children are adequately safeguarded in the process.
- All departments and agencies will work together and share information regarding children who may be missing education.
The local authority encourages all schools including Academies, independent and non-maintained schools to notify them when children of compulsory school age leave their roll, and of their destination wherever possible by using an off roll form.
Contact us
Please call us on:
0121 569 8147
We are based at:
Schools Attendance Support Service
Sandwell Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DE