Issue - meetings

Report CSD17013

The Education Select Committee’s second report, following its meeting on 15^th September 2016, was on Alternative Provision. The report had been considered at full Council on 12^th December 2016 and a written response to the recommendations had been reported back to the Select Committee on 17^th January 2017.

The Leader invited the Chairman of the Select Committee, Councillor Nicholas Bennett, to introduce his Committee’s report. Councillor Bennett highlighted some of findings in the report, including the rise in mental ill-health amongst school age children and concerns about the increasing use of Elective Home Education.  It was recognised that there was a balance between allowing parents to exercise choice about how their children were educated and the child’s right to a good education, but Councillor Bennett felt that safeguarding and ensuring a decent education should have the greater importance. Some Members present took a contrary view that parents should have choice and should not have to be dictated to by the education establishment.

The Leader confirmed that in response to recommendation 7 in the report the local MPs had been contacted about the issue of home education, and they had responded requesting further information.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Education Select Committee be noted and progressed.