Agenda item

[Robert Hart, Head of Service Inclusion Support, to present report]

Rob Hart, Head of Inclusion Support, briefed the panel on the draft response from the City of Wolverhampton’s Council to the Government’s response to the consultation on the proposed changes to how children who are Electively Home Educated are monitored and supported.

The Head of Inclusion Support outlined the background to the issues which led to the Government to consider making changes to the current arrangements. The panel had expressed serious concerns about the current arrangements when a report on the national consultations was presented to them on 5 September 2018.

The Head of Inclusion Support advised the panel that the Department of Education undertook a consultation inviting suggestions and comment about whether current arrangements for children who are home educated was adequate and also views on the national guidance. The findings were published in April 2019.  The Government made four further proposals that were included in the public consultation. The public consultation ends on 24 June 2019.

The Head of Inclusion Support advised the panel of the national response from local authorities to the proposed changes and gave a summary of the response from the City of Wolverhampton Council (CWC)to each specific proposals that Government had invited comments on.  The Head of Inclusion Support, was supportive of first three proposals but did express concern about the financial implications on introducing a duty on local authorities to provide support to home educating families, should they request it. The panel were advised that the panel that CWC currently offer advice and guidance but there was concern that an example given in the consultation document that support could include assistance with the cost of examination fees and also doing checks on private tutors would require extra funding and additional employees support, if implemented.

The panel expressed their disappointment at the Government’s response to the consultation and the failure to address the concerns expressed in September 2018 about a lack of independent assurance about the quality of education given to children who are home educated.

The panel welcomed the introduction of a register for children who are home educated but expressed concerns about the lack of power for the local authority to intervene when there is evidence to suggest a parent is not providing suitable education. There is no definition of the term ‘suitable education’ in the legislation.

The Head of Inclusion Support advised the panel that CWC can issue a School Attendance Order where there are concerns. (School Attendance Orders are issued to parents of children who are outside the school system

when the local authority has reason to believe that children are not receiving an education. The School Attendance Order will name the school the child must attend and will direct the parents to register the child at the named school.)

At present 38 parents are choosing not to engage with the local authority, however, the concern of the service is among those families where the reasons given for wanting to home educate suggest that the full implications of the decision, have not been properly considered.

The panel discussed the range of support offered to families who are home educating their children. The panel queried how the local authority can verify that a child is getting a suitable education and also checks done where there are safeguarding concerns, in particular children who move into the area but do not notify the local authority. The Director for Children’s Services advised the panel that the Council has access to other information where families are not engaging with support services. The information is shared between local authorities to monitor children moving between different areas. The Director for Children’s Services advised that a risk assessment is done where there are safeguarding concerns about a child or young person and that support is given where needed.  The Director added that the service has good working relationships with families who have home educated their children for many years.

The panel queried the support offered to families where a home educated child has special education needs. The Head of Inclusion Support advised that the Council will work with the family to implement an education, health and care (EHC) plan and they can access to specialist support if it is identified as part of the child’s EHC plan, when they have a child who is home educated.

The panel were advised that CWC has responsibility to provide alternative education to a child who has been excluded from school within six days. Meredith Teasdale, Director of Education, explained the role of the Council in ensuring that schools meet their responsibilities to support a pupil who has been excluded from school. The panel queried the funding implications for schools where a parent decides to home educate their child.

The Director of Education advised that part of the school funding formulae is based on a census count of the number of pupils in each local authority reported annually in October, which is then used to calculate the budget allocated to the school in the next financial year.

The panel discussed the reporting of exam results to the Council and the issues caused when the information is not provided. The Director of Education advised that some parents who have chosen to home educate for philosophical reasons may not want to engage with the education system and therefore may not see the value in participating in school examinations delivered by the state.

The Head of Inclusion Support advised the panel that young people aged 14-16 do have other options if they want to take an exam.  The young person could approach a college or training provider, with having attended a school previously.

The panel discussed concerns about safeguarding matters and general welfare for young people who are home educated. The panel discussed the benefits of children socialising and working with other children on projects and expressed concern that this may have on children who are home educated, particularly in the future. The Head of Inclusion Support advised the panel families who have home educated for many years have established community that work together to support each other, and children have the opportunity to socialise with other young people.

John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, commented that he shares the concerns about the current arrangements for monitoring the progress of children who are home educated. The Cabinet Member added that the issue of concern is for parents who have decided to home educate their child without have an established support network and or seeking advice without considering alternative options to address concerns they may have. The Cabinet Member commented on the parents who have successfully home educated their children, who have secured a place at University.

The panel agreed to note the report.

Resolved:

1.    The panel comments on the response of the City of Wolverhampton Council to the consultation on children who are Electively Home Educated to be considered.

2.    The panel remains concerned that the Government proposals do not provide a level of reassurance that children are receiving suitable education and support the issues highlighted in the consultation response drafted by City of Wolverhampton Council.

3.    The panel support the Government’s proposals as detailed in the report, however there are concerns about the financial implications of proposed duty on local authorities to provide support for home educating families and would welcome further clarification on this matter.

4.    Panel members were encouraged to respond to the Government consultation document before it ends on 24 June 2019.