Children Missing Education: what schools need to know about the 2025 guidance update
The Department for Education (DfE) has released an updated version of its statutory guidance on Children Missing Education (CME), on 8 September 2025, following a sector-wide consultation in 2023 on improving support for children missing in education. This is statutory guidance which all academy trusts and governing bodies must have regard to.
CME are defined as those of compulsory school age who are:
- not registered at a school
- not receiving suitable education otherwise (e.g. through approved home education or alternative provision)
Importantly, CME does not include children who are:
- registered at a school but persistently absent
- receiving suitable elective home education (EHE)
- awaiting a school place but still in education
The updated guidance has expanded and clarified several areas, including:
1. Definitions and risk categories
- New examples of CME include children in temporary accommodation, those awaiting school placements, and those receiving unsuitable EHE.
- Greater emphasis on children at risk of harm, exploitation, or radicalisation.
2. Clearer legal duties
- Reinforces Section 436A of the Education Act 1996: local authorities must identify CME and ensure they receive suitable education.
- Schools must support 'reasonable enquiries' when a pupil’s whereabouts are unknown.
3. Information sharing protocols
- Stronger expectations for schools to share data with local authorities and other agencies.
- Use of national databases like GIAP and S2S is encouraged to trace pupils across regions.
4. Admissions and attendance register updates
- New guidance on when and how to remove or add pupils to the register.
- Schools must notify the local authority if a pupil is withdrawn for EHE or moves without clear destination.
5. Accountability and prevention
- Schools are expected to help prevent CME through early intervention, especially during transition points (e.g. Year 6 to Year 7).
- CME processes must be embedded into wider safeguarding and attendance strategies.
Schools play a critical role in early identification and intervention. The updated guidance reinforces that safeguarding and education access are shared responsibilities—and that no child should fall through the cracks.
How can we help?
We will continue to monitor and analyse how these updates may impact schools in practice, particularly in relation to safeguarding, attendance, and regulatory compliance. Further guidance will be provided as the implications become clearer and we review and update our policies for schools in view of this guidance.
For more information, please contact Miriam Carrion-Benitez in our Academies and Maintained Schools team on 020 7665 00802 or at mbenitez@vwv.co.uk.