The Consultation Improving information in identifying children missing education, published on 19 January 2016, proposes amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (the Regulations). It suggests an overhaul to the way schools and local authorities (LAs) communicate movement of pupils in and out of schools to require schools to notify the LA of all deletions from the school roll.
The proposed changes seek to address inconsistent practice and poor communication between schools and LAs in identifying children missing education. The impetus behind the changes is to assist in the prevention of serious safeguarding issues such as forced marriage, child sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation and children falling prey to radicalisation.
The proposed amendments seek to place a legal duty upon all schools to record the grounds for deleting a pupil from the school roll in all circumstances and inform the LA of this. Schools would need to provide the LA with the child's home address, relevant contact details and, where it is reasonably practicable to obtain the information, the child's destination school and new home address (where relevant). This duty will not apply to standard transitions where a pupil finishes the final year at the school, however the LA will have discretionary power to require the information in these circumstances.
A legal duty would also be placed upon schools to inform the LA when adding a pupil's name to the register for non standard transitions (standard transitions being Year 6 to Year 7 at a different school for example). Again, this will not apply to standard transitions unless the LA asks to be kept informed.
The government has recognised that the proposals will have an impact on school resources as well as cost implications. However, this is a broad brush approach as the timescales will naturally vary on a case by case basis. Furthermore, it is unclear whether and to what degree the LA will choose to exercise its discretionary powers in the case of standard transitions.
It is envisaged that any changes will come into effect as early as September 2016. Schools should therefore start to consider what recording and reporting resources are currently in place and how they can best prepare to meet the new regulatory changes.