141 pupils 'vanish' from Staffordshire education system

Figures have revealed 1,126 school-aged children were identified by the county council's child missing education team.

Thirty-seven were known to have emigrated, with 61 children moving from Staffordshire to another local authority where they were awaiting a school placement, according to a report for the 2014 to 2015 academic year. A total of 826 children received education in or outside the county.

A total of 48 are home-educated but 13 were out of education. It also revealed ongoing inquiries were being carried out to assess a further 141.

Reacting to the figures, released in a Freedom of Information request, Councillor Susan Woodward, deputy leader of the Labour party and shadow Cabinet member, said: "The figure that worries me most in these statistics is the 141 'invisible' children. That's nearly 20 children in each of our Staffordshire districts. Where are they, how are they being educated?"

County councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills, said: "We have team dedicated to looking into cases where children have withdrawn from school, and work to proactively identify children who may need support.

"This includes finding out where they are currently living, what education they are receiving, putting measures in place to support families and helping them access the support they need, even if it is from another local authority.

"We have a duty to ensure children who have been removed from the education system are happy, healthy and continue to get a good standard of education."

The authority said all such cases were thoroughly investigated with details displayed on the county's Capita ONE database. Councillor Woodward added: "Councillor Adams' reply smacks to me of complacency and I think he needs to prioritise this, working with partners, and put the necessary time, effort and resources into finding where they are and where they are being schooled." However the council does say experience has shown outcomes will be found in the cases of 99 per cent of the 'invisible' children.

The Department for Education sets out guidelines for Children Missing from Education, and states such children are at significant risk of underachieving, being victims of abuse or becoming NEETs – people 'not in education, employment or training'. The department states local authorities should have robust procedures in place to meet their duties to such children, including appointing a named person that schools and other agencies can make referrals.