The Most Vulnerable Young People Are Often the Ones We Can't See: Why "Phantom NEETs" Are a Safeguarding Concern
When a young person disappears from education, they don't just disappear from a register, sometimes, they disappear from the very systems designed to keep them safe.
This week, the Government announced new measures to help councils identify and support vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds after new data revealed that more than 32,100 "Phantom NEETs" are currently unknown to their local authority. To strengthen early intervention, councils will receive a new Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI), while schools and colleges will receive updated guidance to help identify young people at risk of disengagement. Councils with the highest numbers of untracked young people will also be expected to produce improvement plans.
One thing that struck me while reading the announcement was the term "Phantom NEETs." I understand why it has been used, it describes young people whose education, employment or training status is unknown to their local authority but behind that label are real children with names, families, experiences and often incredibly complex lives.
Words matter.
As safeguarding professionals, we work hard to see the person before the label. Whether it's "frequent attender", "non-engaging family" or "NEET", there is always a risk that professional language unintentionally distances us from the human being behind it.
These young people haven't simply become "phantoms." Many have experienced trauma, exploitation, abuse, homelessness, poor mental health or family breakdown. Others may be navigating circumstances that have left them disconnected from the services designed to support them.
Perhaps the question shouldn't be, "Where are the Phantom NEETs?"
Perhaps it should be, "Why have we lost sight of so many young people, and what can we do to find them again?"
Safeguarding begins when we see the person, not just the category they have been placed in.
When children become invisible, risk increases
Safeguarding relies on relationships, trusted adults noticing changes, attendance, conversations, observations and professional curiosity.
When a young person becomes "unknown" to services, those opportunities begin to disappear.
The question isn't simply:
"Why aren't they in education, employment or training?"
It's also:
"Are they safe?"
Behind the statistics are real lives
Young people who become disengaged rarely do so without reason.
Many have experienced:
Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Domestic abuse
Child criminal exploitation
Child sexual exploitation
Mental ill health
Homelessness
Poverty
Family breakdown
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Care experience
Substance misuse
These are not isolated issues, they often overlap, increasing vulnerability and making it harder for young people to remain connected with education, training or employment. If we only see those not in education, employment or training as an employment statistic, we risk overlooking the safeguarding concerns sitting behind it.
Earlier identification matters
One of the most positive aspects of the Government's announcement is its focus on prevention.
The new Risk Indicator will bring together factors such as attendance, SEND, care experience and other indicators to help identify young people before they disengage completely. That reflects something safeguarding professionals have always known.
The earlier we recognise vulnerability, the greater the opportunity to reduce harm.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility
This isn't just about:
Local authorities.
Schools.
Colleges.
Training providers.
Health services.
Youth justice.
Housing.
Voluntary organisations.
Employers.
Every organisation working with young people has a role in recognising when someone begins to withdraw, disengage or disappear. No single agency will ever hold the complete picture. That is why partnership working remains one of the strongest protective factors we have.
Questions safeguarding leaders should now be asking
This announcement offers an important opportunity for reflection.
Do we know which young people are becoming increasingly disengaged?
Are attendance concerns being viewed through a safeguarding lens?
Are we sharing information effectively across agencies?
Do we understand the links between trauma, exploitation and educational disengagement?
Are young people involved in shaping the support they receive?
We cannot safeguard children we cannot see
One thing has stayed with me throughout my career. Children rarely become invisible overnight.
There are often missed opportunities, small changes, subtle indicators, moments when someone could have asked one more question.
This latest announcement is an important reminder that safeguarding isn't simply about responding when harm is identified, it's about recognising vulnerability early enough to prevent it escalating because every young person deserves to be seen.
Every young person deserves to be known and every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Resources
Read the Press Release here
Participation in education, training and NEET age 16 to 17 by local authority