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Missing Child Policy

Applicable to:

Staff and Students

Committee

Responsible:

Staff and Student Development

Person Responsible:

Assistant Headteacher, Pastoral

Date for Next Review:

June 2022

Missing Child Policy

This Policy is applicable to all students.

Appendix A – Missing Child - Burford Institute of Music

Appendix B - OCC Students missing education policy

Aims of the Policy

At Burford School, children’s safety is maintained as the highest priority at all times both on and off premises. Every attempt is made to ensure the security of children is maintained at all times. In the unlikely event of a child going missing, our Missing Child Procedure is followed as set out in the three flow charts which follow: Daytime – For all Students between 0830 and 15.00 – Chart 1

Boarding – For Boarders between 15.00 and 8.30 and at weekends – Chart 2

Educational Visits – Chart 3 and Chart 4

Child not arriving - Another situation which must be monitored carefully is the

procedure followed when a child does not arrive at School at the allotted time. The procedure is slightly different on the two campuses, Chart 4 sets out the timeline of actions to be taken in this situation.

Child leaving with no forwarding address - In the case of a child leaving Burford School without a forwarding address then School will make every effort to make contact with the family to ascertain the child’s next place of education. In the event of this not been possible then the School will inform the local authority. See the Children Missing from Education policy (OCC).

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CHART 1

Student missing on Day school site. Between 08.30 and 15.00

Check individual music lesson timetable, Learning Zone timetable, Bridge, HSLW, School Health Nurse and trips register.

INFORM: Headteacher who will inform Chair of Governors and parents of missing pupil

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CHART 2

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PROCEDURE FOR CHILD MISSING FROM BOARDING HOUSE BETWEEN 15:00 – 08:30 and at Weekends

Call the missing students mobile.

INFORM: Headteacher who will inform Chair of Governors and parents of missing pupil

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CHART 3

INFORM: Headteacher who will inform Chair of Governors and parents of missing pupil

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INFORM: Headteacher who will inform Chair of Governors and parents of missing pupil

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Procedure for children who do not arrive after morning Registration Time

1. Registration taken and noted on SIMS 2. Registrations lists checked by Attendance officer and matched with any authorised

absences including messages from parents re illness. 3. Administration staff to then follow up any unexplained absences with boarding

houses and parents. Vulnerable Students list to be checked first. 4. DSL to be notified of any pupils who cannot be accounted for. 5. DSL to advise on next steps depending on individuals involved, continuing with

regular phone calls, leaving messages, contacting other family members, paired Home visit or instigating the missing child procedure are all possible options.

6. If the missing child procedure is instigated then follow Chart 1 – Daytime – 0830 – 1500.

Actions Following an Emergency Situation

It is critical that following a situation when a child has gone missing and has been found that the effect on that child and the other member of the community is evaluated and appropriate actions are taken. Below is a list of suggested actions but you must be aware that every situation is different:

Talk to, take care of and, if necessary, comfort the child. Speak to the other children to ensure they understand why they should not leave

the premises/separate from a group on an outing. The Headteacher or DSL will speak to the parents(s)/carer(s) to discuss events and

give an account of the incident. There will be a full review of the incident and the procedure evaluated in light of

what has happened. Media queries should be referred to the Headteacher or Chairman of the Governors

only; staff should not engage in conversations with the media about the incident, nor should they contact any third party until told to do so.

Managing People

Missing child incidents are very worrying for all concerned. Part of managing the incident is to try to keep everyone as calm as possible.

The staff will feel worried about the child, especially the key worker or staff responsible for the safety of that child for the outing. They may blame themselves and their feelings of anxiety and distress will rise as the length of time the child is missing increases.

Staff may be the understandable target of parental anger and they may be afraid. The Headteacher, DSL (AHT Pastoral), will ensure that staff under investigation are not only fairly treated but receive support while feeling vulnerable.

The parents will feel angry, and fraught. They may want to blame staff and may single out one staff member over others. When dealing with a distraught and angry parent, there should always be two members of staff from the Senior Team. No matter how understandable the parent’s anger may be, aggression or threats against staff are not tolerated, and the police should be called.

The other children are also sensitive to what is going on around them. They too may be worried. The remaining staff caring for them need to be focused on their needs and must not discuss the incident in front of them. They should answer children’s questions honestly but also reassure them.

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In accordance with the severity of the final outcome, staff may need counselling and support. If a child is not found, or is injured, or worse, this will be a very difficult time. The Headteacher will use their discretion to decide what action to take.

Any contact or questions from the media will be dealt with solely by the Headteacher or the Chairman of the Governors

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Appendix A

Missing Child from Burford Institute of Music Primary Music Sessions

This appendix is applicable to all students who attend Burford Institute of Music Primary Music sessions.

Aims of the Policy

At Burford School, children’s safety is maintained as the highest priority at all times both on and off premises. Every attempt is made to ensure the security of children is maintained at all times. In the unlikely event of a child going missing, our Missing Child Procedure is followed as set out in the flow chart on page 3.

Procedure for child missing from BIM

1. Registration – check minibus registers to ensure completeness of lists.

2. If a child is noticed to be missing during the session

i) Re-register

ii) Check with instrumental teachers whether child is with them

iii) Inform Simon Gray – note the time on the sheet

3. START TIMELINE

4. Search immediate building (Wysdom block) and surroundings

5. Inform Caroline Skerten (07925635611)

6. Simon Gray to inform parents

7. Search extended grounds and buildings

8. Inform police (101)

Actions Following an Emergency Situation

It is critical that following a situation when a child has gone missing and has been found that the effect on that child and the other member of the community is evaluated and appropriate actions are taken. Below is a list of suggested actions but you must be aware that every situation is different:

Talk to, take care of and, if necessary, comfort the child. Speak to the other children to ensure they understand why they should not leave

the premises/separate from a group on an outing.

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The DSL will speak to the parents(s)/carer(s) to discuss events and give an account of the incident.

There will be a full review of the incident and the procedure evaluated in light of what has happened.

Media queries should be referred to the Headteacher or Chairman of the Governors only; staff should not engage in conversations with the media about the incident, nor should they contact any third party until told to do so.

Managing People

Missing child incidents are very worrying for all concerned. Part of managing the incident is to try to keep everyone as calm as possible.

The staff will feel worried about the child, especially the staff responsible for the safety of that child. They may blame themselves and their feelings of anxiety and distress will rise as the length of time the child is missing increases.

Staff may be the understandable target of parental anger and they may be afraid. The Headteacher, DSL (AHT Pastoral), will ensure that staff under investigation are not only fairly treated but receive support while feeling vulnerable.

The parents will feel angry, and fraught. They may want to blame staff and may single out one staff member over others. When dealing with a distraught and angry parent, there should always be two members of staff from the Senior Team. No matter how understandable the parent’s anger may be, aggression or threats against staff are not tolerated, and the police should be called.

The other children are also sensitive to what is going on around them. They too may be worried. The remaining staff caring for them need to be focused on their needs and must not discuss the incident in front of them. They should answer children’s questions honestly but also reassure them.

In accordance with the severity of the final outcome, staff may need counselling and support. If a child is not found, or is injured, or worse, this will be a very difficult time. The Headteacher will use their discretion to decide what action to take.

Any contact or questions from the media will be dealt with solely by the Headteacher or the Chairman of the Governors.

Missing Student BIM – Time Line

Name: Date:

Person who reported student missing: Time:

Inform Mr Gray Time:

Search Wysdom block and surroundings

Time:

Inform CSK Time:

Parents informed Time:

More extensive search conducted Time:

Police informed Time:

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Chart A1

Check with instrumental teachers

INFORM: Headteacher who will inform Chair of Governors and parents of missing pupil

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Appendix B

Oxfordshire County Council

Children Missing Education Policy

1. Rationale:

To lay out Oxfordshire's duties and responsibilities to resident children missing education and describe how the local authority discharges these duties and provides services to ensure their needs are met.

To ensure that Oxfordshire families are safe, healthy, prosperous and self-reliant because they have the aspirations and means to succeed.

2. Legislative framework informing this policy:

Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 (added by section 4 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006)

Education Act 1996 (section 7, 8, 14 and 19)

Education and Inspections Act 2006 (section 4 and 38 )

Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations

2006

Education (Pupil Registration) (Amendment) (England) Regulations

2016 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018

Children Missing Education Statutory Guidance 2016 Oxfordshire has a duty under section 436A of the Education Act 1996 to make arrangements to establish the identities of children in this area who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise. This duty only

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relates to children of compulsory school age.

3. Introduction:

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to ensuring that each resident child receives their full-time educational entitlement to inform every available opportunity that leads to

Strong Families: families thrive because they have developed the skills, knowledge, behaviours, capabilities and resilience to do so;

Safe Families: families stay safe because they are resilient to and able to effectively

manage risks and protect themselves from harm;

Healthy Families: families are healthy because they have obtained the skills,

knowledge, behaviours and capabilities to lead healthy and socially responsible life- styles; and

Economically Prosperous Families: families prosper because they have secured the means to live independently through sustained engagement in employment, education and training.

4. Commitment:

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to ensuring that all pupils who go missing, or

are lost from school in Oxfordshire, or move to other areas are speedily located. Supporting other local authorities to locate their own missing/lost pupils should they

move to Oxfordshire. Complying with the requirements of regional CME protocols. Supporting all colleagues and partners within Oxfordshire's children's workforce that

identify children missing from education or children whose whereabouts are unknown.

Delivering this as underpinned by all the relevant statutory requirements in relation to children missing education.

Connecting with the national S2S and Key to Success pupil databases. Keeping children safe and follow best practice underpinned by the statutory

framework which places a duty on all professionals to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Definition of children missing education:

A child of statutory school age (5-16) not registered at a school. A child allocated a place at a school but has not attended. A child listed as being educated at home but not receiving an education.

This guidance does not replace the Working Together to Safeguard Children Child Protection Procedures.

This document should be read in conjunction with 'Children who run away or go missing from home or care' statutory guidance January 2014.

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5. Oxfordshire's strategic direction:

Oxfordshire recognises its duty as champion of vulnerable children in the county and accepts that children missing education are at high risk of underachieving in all aspects of their learning and development, being victims of harm, exploitation or radicalisation, and becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) later in life. They are seen as a shared responsibility across the children’s workforce in Oxfordshire in the same way that safeguarding is everyone's business. Children missing education features in Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s’ Board key priorities.

6. Children at particular risk of missing education:

There are too numerous a range of reasons that children miss education, so every circumstance needs to be considered on a case by case basis. However, some particular groups of children vulnerable to missing education have been identified as:-

Young people who have committed offences.

Children living in women's refuges.

Children of homeless families including those living in temporary and emergency accommodation.

Missing children and runaways.

Children with long-term medical or emotional problems.

Looked after children.

Newly migrant children.

Young Carers.

Children from Gypsy/Traveller heritages.

Teenage mothers.

Children who are permanently excluded from school.

Children who are electively home educated due to dissatisfaction with their original

school.

Children and young people who abuse drugs and alcohol.

Children of Service personnel.

Trafficked children.

Privately Fostered children.

Children at risk of radicalisation.

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Children at risk of harm/neglect.

Children and young people supervised by the Youth Justice System.

Children who cease to attend school.

7. Children missing education and partner agencies:

Oxfordshire has identified key stakeholders, both statutory and non-statutory, to provide information about children through the Oxfordshire Children's Safeguarding Board.

Oxfordshire has publicised notification routes for all stakeholders nationally through DfE network.

CME may become known to partner agencies that then have a duty to share this intelligence with the Oxfordshire County Council Learner Engagement services so that appropriate action can be taken. In this context, partner agencies include but are not limited to all schools and academies, independent schools, Police, CAMHS, Young Carers services, YOS, Youth service providers, Housing, Admissions, Border Agency, other boroughs and counties, Health A&E, Health Visitors and G.Ps, residents.

8. ICT information sources to support the identification of CME in Oxfordshire include:

LCS Protocol Liquid Logic

S2S (School to School)

IYSS

DWP LMS

Business Objects

Key to Success

NBTC Data Governance

Frameworki

Pendulum

ONE

9. Monitoring and Tracking:

Each local authority is required to have a named person responsible for CME in their area. For Oxfordshire County Council as of Autumn 2018 to date, that person is Deborah Bell, 07909 882843, deborah.bell@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

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Oxfordshire will track, locate and liaise with other local authorities where relevant, to ensure access to education for children who:-

Have never accessed education (through enrolment at a school or otherwise since

reaching the age of 5).

Leave educational provision without a confirmed education destination and/or fail to

access education when moving to a new area.

Fail to transfer between key stages.

Have been withdrawn by parent/carer from the education system without stating their

intention to provide for future education.

All inquiries pertaining to children missing education will be addressed daily through missing.pupils@oxfordshire.gov.uk, managed by the County Attendance Team.

10. Oxfordshire will consider all CME matters closed when:

The child is on roll at a school either within Oxfordshire or within the United Kingdom

or overseas.

The child is confirmed by parent as electively home educated.

All reasonable checks have been conducted, and the child cannot be located in

Oxfordshire or elsewhere (including overseas when relevant), including with partner agencies, and the child's details are uploaded to S2S.

11. Services for Children Missing Education in Oxfordshire:

In addition to the intelligence sources detailed in sec. 7 above, Oxfordshire has adopted a weekly data feed from all tax payer funded schools.

Pupils on reintegration timetables are routinely reviewed every 6 weeks between the County Attendance Team and individual schools.

All this data is drawn together into one place and this informs the work of the Learner Engagement services.

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Electively Home Educated Children are not considered to be missing education. Appendix B. Oxfordshire EHE Policy. A list of electively home educated children (when reported or identified) is held by the Elective Home Education Team.

When partners within the children's workforce in Oxfordshire or residents identify a child, who is nominally electively home educated but concerns arise around their safety, well-being or sufficiency and appropriateness of education, this is reported to the MASH and Elective Home Education Team. Investigation into the safety and well-being of the child is conducted with EHE Officers and Social Care colleagues. Concerns solely about the quality of education are noted and the Oxfordshire EHE policy (attached Appendix B) is adhered to.

12. Management of this Policy:

Strategic oversight of this Policy sits with the Head of Learner Engagement. Operational

delivery of this Policy sits with the County Attendance Team.

This Policy is approved by the Deputy Director for Education. To be reviewed annually. Review and evaluation of this policy by senior management and lead Members will be regular as para. 10 of the current guidance. In Oxfordshire, this will be annually or more frequently in light of future legislative changes.

Oxfordshire raises awareness of this policy through partners within the children's workforce through the Oxfordshire Children's Safeguarding Board and through engagement with regional CME networks and the Department for Education.

Notes:

Oxfordshire 2019 (due for review 2020)