The Local Authority is committed to :
- ensuring that all pupils who go missing or are lost from schools in Wigan and move to other areas are speedily located;
- supporting other LAs to locate their own missing/lost pupils should such pupils move to Wigan.
The Local Authority believes that it can best achieve this if its procedures:
- are underpinned by the relevant statutory requirements in relation to missing/lost pupils
- interconnect with the Department for Education's central s2s (school-to-school) Lost Pupils Database
- are consistent with and support local child protection best practice
Procedures in Wigan
- Should a child leave a Wigan school without notice being given by the parent or without the school being advised by the parent as to which new school the child is to attend - that is, should the child go 'missing' or become 'lost' - the school will promptly notify the Education Welfare Service. (If the child is on the Child Protection Register or if the school have particular child protection concerns about the child, the school will immediately notify the Social Care Team).
- The Education Welfare Service will then work with the school and make reasonable efforts to try and identify the child's current whereabouts/destination.
The Local Authority recognises that these procedures will only function effectively if all Wigan schools are committed to adhering to these principles, and will therefore, ensure that all Wigan schools:
- are made fully aware of their responsibilities in relation to missing/lost pupils and,
- are properly supported to meet these responsibilities
The Local Authority closely monitor the operation of its missing/lost children procedures by holding regular Senior Officer meetings.
