Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there is a mandated process for social services to be informed when a child for whom there has been a (a) Child Protection Plan, (b) Child in Need plan and (c) safeguarding concern raised is removed from school.

Schools are legally required to notify the local authority of a child’s removal from the school roll at a non-standard transition point. This relates to pupils removed from the admission register before completing the final year of education normally provided by the school, or pupils added to the admission register after the start of the first year of education normally provided by that school. Local authorities are legally responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in their area, and for identifying children who are not receiving a suitable education if not in school. Where the latter is the case, they should commence the School Attendance Order process.

Statutory guidance is clear on how local authorities, schools and other agencies should work together to help, protect, and promote the welfare of children. Where a child of school age is not a registered pupil at a school and is not receiving suitable education at home, this could be an indicator of neglect, abuse, or exploitation. Local authorities should work closely with schools and other agencies to share information effectively, identify and respond to risks of harm, and ensure children and families receive the services they need.

The proposed Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced on 17 December, contains new measures which, if the bill is passed, will require parents to obtain local authority consent before they can home educate if their child is subject to a child protection enquiry or has a child protection plan. Local authorities would also have new powers under the bill to require any home educated child to attend or remain in school if their home or learning environment is deemed unsuitable.