Children Missing Education (CME)

I am requesting information about children of compulsory school age whose educational needs are currently not being met within existing provision in Lincolnshire. Please provide the following information for children who are ordinarily resident in Lincolnshire, for the latest date you hold data for (or, if easier, a snapshot as at 31 January 2026, or the most recent full term-end):

1 Children Missing Education (CME)

1a. The total number of children recorded as Children Missing Education (CME) in Lincolnshire.

1b. If available, a breakdown of this figure by district, including a separate figure for the City of Lincoln district.

1c. If recorded, a breakdown by primary reason for missing education (for example: special educational needs/disability, health/medical, awaiting suitable placement, parental choice, other).

2 Children with EHCPs not in full-time appropriate provision As of the same date, the number of children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who:

2a. Are not on roll at any school or setting.

2b. Are on a reduced timetable (less than full-time education).

2c. Are awaiting placement in a special school, alternative provision, or other appropriate setting due to a lack of available or suitable places. Please provide totals for Lincolnshire and, if held, a breakdown by district including the City of Lincoln district.

3. Unmet-need / provision categories If your systems use any specific categories or descriptors equivalent to 'needs cannot be met in current provision', 'no suitable placement available', or similar, please provide:

3a. The name of those categories; and

3b. The number of children currently recorded under each of those categories, again for Lincolnshire overall and, if possible, broken down by district including City of Lincoln. Reports or summaries (if available)

4. If available within the cost limits, please also provide any internal report or summary produced in the last 12 months which sets out the number of children who are:

4a. Missing education, and/or

4b. Awaiting a suitable place due to their special educational needs or disability in Lincolnshire, including any breakdowns for the City of Lincoln district.

5. Please provide the data in an electronic, machine-readable format (for example, Excel) to this email address.

1.
1a.  Total Number – 243

1b. District Breakdown:

Boston                             70

East Lindsey                   40

Lincoln                             38

North Kesteven             9

South Holland               42

South Kesteven             22

West Lindsey                 15

Not Recorded                3

1c. Failed EHE – 15

Moved Into Lincs, No Confirmed School - 44

Moved Out of County, No Confirmed School - 30

Moved Out of Country, No Confirmed School – 71

Moved Within Lincs, No Confirmed School – 14

Not Recorded – 69

2.
2a. 169
2b. 85
2c. 246 waiting for a specialist provision

3a & 3b. Information not held.

4a&4b. Under the Freedom of Information Act, this information is exempt under Section 21. This is because the information is already reasonably accessible in the public domain by using this link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/children-missing-education