Attendance, CME, EHE and Off-Rolling
Persistent or unexplained absence is often a symptom of wider issues. The school response should start with support and enquiry — not default punishment.
Reviewed against KCSIE 2025 · CSPR Annual Report 2023–24 · Attendance Guidance · CME Guidance · May 2026
Why this matters
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel 2023–24 annual report found that 41% of school-age children in rapid reviews had regular absences or low attendance, and 48% were missing from education in some form. Attendance is not a clerical issue. It is a safeguarding signal. A child who stops coming to school has lost a protective factor — often the most consistent one they had.
What the guidance expects
- 01Schools must make reasonable enquiries when a child is absent without explanation. (KCSIE 2025)
- 02Children missing education should be reported to the local authority promptly. (CME Guidance)
- 03Schools must not off-roll children to improve attendance data or manage behaviour. (Ofsted)
- 04EHE requests where safeguarding vulnerabilities exist require explicit senior leader sign-off. (KCSIE 2025)
- 05Severe absence cases should involve the DSL — not only the attendance team. (KCSIE 2025)
Run first-day response rigorously
First-day response means the school contacts the family on the first unexplained absence — not after three days. A phone call. A text. A record of what happened and who made contact.
Build a safeguarding attendance panel
The panel should involve DSL, SENCO, pastoral lead, attendance lead and — where needed — the LA. It meets weekly and looks at the safeguarding story behind persistent and severe absence, not just the attendance percentage.
Document joint enquiries for possible CME
If a child cannot be located, the CME referral process begins immediately. Joint enquiries with the LA are documented. The school does not act alone or delay.
Use explicit leader sign-off for EHE where vulnerabilities exist
Where a parent requests EHE and the child is on a child protection plan or has significant vulnerabilities, the decision must be made at senior leader level — not processed as a parent right without scrutiny.
Test your systems for off-rolling risk
If a child is removed from roll under any informal arrangement — AP, home education, managed move — check: is it lawful, documented, reviewed and supported? Off-rolling to manage attendance or behaviour is unlawful.
Quick check
0/5 yesOfficial sources
KCSIE 2025 — Children absent from education
Safeguarding duties for absent children, EHE and children missing education.
Working Together to Improve School Attendance
Support-first response, severe absence, joint working with the LA.
Children Missing Education — Statutory Guidance
Joint enquiries, deletion returns, home educated children.
CSPR Panel Annual Report 2023–24
Attendance and missing education as recurring factors in rapid reviews.