Agenda item

Elective Home Education

[Rachel King,Head of Service Specialist Support, to present report]

Minutes:

Rachel King, Head of Service Specialist Support, gave a brief outline of the current legislation surrounding the current home education guidance and update on work being done to support parents in Wolverhampton who have decided to home educate their children.

 

The Head of Service advised the panel about the legal rights of parents to home educate, which the Council cannot refuse . The Head of Service advised  the panel of the concerns about the current guidance on home education issued by Government. The Head of Service advised the panel that Department of Education is consulting on proposed changes to the guidance. The results of the consultation and any proposed changes will be published before the end of the 2018.

 

The Head of Service briefed the panel about the concerns about the current arrangements and supported changes which will give powers to the local authority and allow for more robust monitoring of the quality education that home educated children are receiving.  The panel were advised that 269 children were being home educated (2017-18) and a summary of the top reasons for families opting to home educate.

 

The Head of Service commented on the weaknesses and limitations of the current Elective Home Education legislation – for example, identifying pupils that are being home educated, families who can choose not to engage with the Council and the challenges this presents.

 

The Head of Service advised the panel that some home educators have successfully home educated their children. However, there was concern that the local authority cannot always be confident that all children in this situation are receiving a good education.

 

The Head of Service commented on the work done to engage and support parents who choose to home educate and to respond any safeguarding concerns.

 

The panel discussed the links between children who have either been excluded or not been able to get a place of the preferred choice of school and those who are being home educated. The Head of Service commented that parents are not required to notify the Council if they move to the area and there are children who are not known to the service.

 

The panel queried if the service was able to get results of children who have completed exams at either GSCE or A Level and was advised that parents are not required to share this information with the council. The service will  ask parents known to the service to complete a form to advise them of the outcome, but there is no requirement for them to respond.

 

The panel discussed the issue of children of travelling families and the work done to monitor their educational progress.

 

 

The panel expressed shock that parents who choose to home educate are not required to work with the council and the lack of power of the Council to satisfy themselves that children are getting an appropriate education. The Head of Service advised the panel that there is a legal option to take action for the council if there are concerns about a child.

 

The panel commented on the United Nations Charter about the right of a child to be educated and how the current policy on home school education meets this obligation.

 

The panel discussed the role of Ofsted and if they would visit a family being home educated.

 

The panel were advised that there was no requirement on parents to have a specific training and or qualification before they can home educate a child.

 

The panel discussed the growth of unregistered schools and if parents were using this option to meet their children’s education needs.

 

Wolverhampton Youth Council expressed their concern about the situation and that there was no legal requirement for a child to attend a school – and commented on the benefits to children of attending school regularly.

 

The panel were advised that a decision from the Government is expected early next year on their response to the consultation document. A panel member advised that the issue would be raised with her local MP to raise concerns about the current situation of home educated children when it is discussed in parliament.

 

Resolved:

1.    The panel support the concerns highlighted in the report about the children being home educated need for change.

2.    The panel support the proposals in the consultation which suggest increasing the powers of the Council to register and monitor the progress of children who are home educated.

Supporting documents: