Every child has a fundamental right to an education, yet more than 100,000 children each year are being denied this basic right. These children, many of whom have slipped through the cracks of our education system, are not just numbers—they are young lives at risk of being forgotten. I am deeply concerned about this situation, as it reflects a troubling gap in our ability to protect and support some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Local authorities, despite their best efforts, are struggling with insufficient resources and inadequate powers to track and support these children.
This concern drove me to conduct a detailed investigation, and my report sheds light on the experiences of children missing from education. It reveals that these children are particularly vulnerable, yet the response from some local authorities is not urgent enough. Far too often, children fall off the radar.
This is why I have dedicated myself to uncovering the truth about the journeys of children missing from education. My report lays bare the harsh realities: these children are some of the most vulnerable in our society, yet there is insufficient support available to return them to school. In too many instances, there is a lack of urgency in starting investigations, and the importance of safeguarding is not always given the attention it deserves.
I am committed to using my role as Children’s Commissioner to make sure every child’s right to education is protected. Many local authority teams are working hard to locate these children, but they are limited by a lack of resources and access to essential information. Some do not even have basic data, like council tax records, which hampers their efforts. My report clearly highlights the need for a unique ID and nationwide data sharing to make sure that no child falls off the radar.
We must do much more to help these children to reengage with education. The way we currently handle long-term cases of children missing from education is not working. In too many areas, there seems to be a lack of curiosity about what has happened to these children, many of whom have already faced significant disruptions in their education. The current system is more focused on legal sanctions and process rather than the academic and pastoral support needed to help children to reengage with education. These are some of the most vulnerable children, and they deserve our full attention and support.
As Children’s Commissioner, I am determined to bring about the changes needed to address this issue. This report outlines practical steps to prevent children from going missing in the education system and to help those who have already fallen through the cracks. By reforming our education system with a focus on inclusion, we can ensure that every child has the chance to reach their full potential.
Read the report here: Children Missing Education – The Unrolled Story
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