Page 4 - Students Missing Education 2021 10.18 a.m.. 18th January 2021

• Is the lesson being missed one that would cause bruising or injuries to become visible?

Single missing days:
• Is there a pattern in the day missed?
• Is it before or after the weekend suggesting the child is away from the area?
• Are there specific lessons or members of staff on these days?

• Is the parent informing the school of the absence on the day?
• Are missing days reported back to parents to confirm their awareness?
• Is the child being sexually exploited during this day?; Do the parents appear to be aware?
• Are the pupil’s peers making comments or suggestions as to where the pupil is at?

Continuous missing days:
• Has the school been able to make contact with the parent?, Is medical evidence being provided?
• Are siblings attending school (either our or local schools)?
• Did we have any concerns about radicalisation, FGM, forced marriage, honor based violence,

sexual exploitation?
• Have we had any concerns about physical or sexual abuse?

The school will view absence as both a safeguarding issue and an educational outcomes issue. The
school may take steps that could result in legal action for attendance, or a referral to children’s social
care, or both.

Children Missing from Home or Care
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-who-run-away-or-go-missing-from-home-or-care

http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-lobbying/children-risk/runaways

Children who run away from home or from care, provide a clear behavioural indication that they are either
unhappy or do not feel safe in the place that they are living.

Research shows that children run away from conflict or problems at home or school, neglect or abuse,
or because children are being groomed by predatory individuals who seek to exploit them. Many run
away on numerous occasions.

The association of UK chief police officers has provided the following definitions and guidance.

“Missing person is: ‘Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established and where the circumstances are
out of character or the context suggests the person may be the subject of crime or at risk of harm to
themselves or another.’
An absent person is: ‘A person not at a place where they are expected or required to be.’

All cases classified as ‘missing’ by the police will receive an active police response – such as
deployment of police officers to locate a child. Cases where the child was classified as ‘absent’ will be

recorded by the police and risk assessed regularly but no active response will be deployed. The absent
case will be resolved when a young person returns or new information comes to light suggesting that
he/she is at risk. In the latter instance, the case is upgraded to ‘missing’.

Within any case of children who are missing both push and pull factors will need to be considered.

Push factors include:

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Rasami British International School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students
and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. It is our aim that all students fulfil their potential.