A recent report has highlighted growing concerns regarding forced marriages involving children aged 12 or younger. Experts and child protection advocates have issued a warning that the upcoming start of the school year in September is a critical period for identifying these cases. According to these advocates, the absence of students from classrooms when schools reopen often serves as a primary indicator that a child may have been removed from the country or hidden for the purpose of a forced marriage.

While the specific number of children affected remains a subject of ongoing monitoring, the report emphasizes that the vulnerability of children in this age group is a significant concern for social services and law enforcement. The Independent reports that there is an expectation of "missing children" when the term begins, suggesting that the transition between school years is a high-risk window for families to facilitate these practices. There is currently no public disagreement on the existence of this trend, though the report focuses primarily on the preventative measures schools are expected to take. The article frames the issue as a systemic failure to protect the most vulnerable, urging schools to be vigilant in tracking attendance and reporting unexplained absences immediately to relevant authorities to prevent potential harm.