As above, all children are entitled to an education. For the majority of children this will be through a mainstream setting with a number of other children of roughly the same age. For some the provision will be more tailored to their individual presenting needs and for others education will be provided at home. As per the Department for Education’s guidance below, children who are not receiving a suitable education (whether in school or somewhere else) are considered as missing education (CME). Children who are classed as CME are at significant risk of not reaching their full potential, being harmed, exploited, involved in gangs, or radicalised and also becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) as they get older.
The Social Care Institute of Excellence (2020) report that where there is a link to poverty, deprivation or involvement with Children’s Social Care, there is a higher chance of children being recorded as missing education.
