Issue - meetings

Report ED16007

The Committee considered a report providing contextual information regarding Elective Home Education and Children Missing in Education including data appertaining to students within the Local Authority who fell within those categories.

It was compulsory for every child of school age to receive a full time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs they might have.  Over the past three years, there had been a consistent nationwide increase in the number of families choosing elective home education for all or part of their child’s education.  In the 2013/14 academic year, 171 pupils had been identified as receiving elective home education in Bromley.  This was for a range of reasons including an elective home education ethos, lack of progress at existing provision, bullying or health issues.

The Local Authority had no statutory rights to inspect home education provision but continued to be responsible for the safeguarding of children and young people.  Where a parent or carer chose to electively home educate their child, they were required to confirm their intention in writing to their child’s Head teacher, who then notified the Local Authority.  Once the Local Authority was notified, the Child Missing Education Officer would make initial contact with the family to ensure that they were fully aware of their education responsibilities, that the child had no unmet needs and that there were no safeguarding concerns.  The Education Advisor would undertake a follow up visit within 2-10 weeks, and if this visit was deemed satisfactory, further visits would be made at approximate six monthly intervals.  Should a family fail to engage with the Education Advisor and there was no evidence of a suitable education being provided to a child, the case was referred back to the Children Missing Education Officer to instigate a School Attendance Order.  Students who wished to return to mainstream education from elective home education were supported via the Fair Access Protocol. 

The Chairman noted that The Times Newspaper on Saturday 5 March had a whole page dedicated to Home Education and asked that this information be circulated to the Committee.

The Senior Education Welfare Officer provided three anecdotal case studies of elective home education in action.

In response to a question, the Senior Education Welfare Officer reported that it was important to note that once a parent had declared that there child was in elective home education they were considered to have an education base and would not be considered a priority for school places. 

The Chairman queried how parents of pupils that were GCSE age dealt with the provision of specialist equipment for subjects such as science.  The Senior Education Welfare Officer reported that there was no onus on parents to follow the National Curriculum so this data was not collected by the Local Authority.  However some parents did have access to specialist equipment and provision through established educational organisations such as the Open University.

In response to a question surrounding the academic achievements and future success of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76