EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations apply to the establishment and operation of a children missing education (“CME”) database in Wales.

A pilot local authority (as defined in regulation 2(1) and Schedule 1) will be required to establish and operate a CME database (regulation 3) that will contain the information set out in Schedule 2 to the Regulations in respect of children of compulsory school age who are ordinarily resident in the pilot local authority’s area.

A Local Health Board and general medical services contractor in Wales will be required to disclose to a pilot local authority certain information specified in Schedule 2 that is held by them (regulation 4). A pilot local authority must take reasonable steps to ensure that the information in the database is accurate (regulation 5).

Regulations 6 to 11 detail the occasions when a child’s name must be removed from a CME database.

Regulation 12 details who may have access to the database and for which education functions it may be used.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from Equity in Education, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and is published on www.gov.wales.