Agenda item

Report ED15113

The Committee considered a report outlining the legal framework and the Local Authority’s processes regarding truancy and children missing education.

Truancy in education was defined as absences from school that had not been authorised by the school and could include parentally condoned absences.  Persistent absentees were defined as young people who had an absence rate of 15% or above, including both authorised and unauthorised absences.  In 2013/14, overall absence for state funded primary and secondary schools had reduced by 0.7% from the previous year to 4.1%, and was lower than the national average of 4.4%.  Persistent absence for state funded primary and secondary schools had reduced by 0.5% from the previous year to 3.6%, which was lower than the national average of 4.1%.  This compared favourably to a number of the Local Authority’s statistical neighbours and surrounding boroughs.  Illness continued to be the main reason for absence and Bromley Education Welfare Service had requested schools be more challenging when looking at illness.

The Education Welfare Service discharged the Local Authority’s statutory duties in relation to children missing education and holding parents to account for ensuring the regular attendance of their children at school.  Children missing education was defined as all children of compulsory school age who were not on a school roll, nor being educated otherwise, and who had been out of any educational provision for a substantial period of time.  When undertaking inspection of local authorities, Ofsted had broadened this definition to include those young people who were attending alternative provision, been permanently excluded, in receipt of home tuition due to medical needs, receiving elective home education or were looked after by the Local Authority.  In Bromley there were currently 74 children and young people accessing alternative provision, 40 permanently excluded, 59 receiving home tuition, 111 receiving elective home education, and 197 looked after children.

To support the identification and monitoring of this cohort on a regular basis, the Local Authority had developed a Children Missing Education Policy which had been provided to all schools and partner agencies.  As part of this policy, schools were expected to notify the Local Authority of any pupil that they intended to remove from their school roll prior to removal, as well as notifying the Local Authority of any pupil that had failed to attend school for 10 days and that they had been unable to trace.  Partner agencies, health and voluntary organisations were also able to refer any child they believed to be out of education to an Officer within the Education Welfare Service who was dedicated to receiving Children Missing Education referrals.  On receipt of a referral, this Officer would undertake all relevant enquires, including making contact with the family in order to support the child to re-engage with education, liaising with supporting agencies as necessary.  Families and children who could not be traced were placed on a national database which was used by other local authorities to confirm if children reported missing had been identified within their authority. 

In considering the report, Members were advised that schools were able to authorise leave for pupils in exceptional circumstances.  There had recently been an increase in both secondary and primary schools requesting the Local Authority issue Education Fixed Penalty Notices in response to unauthorised leave, which were charged at £60 per parent per pupil missing education.

Further reports on children missing education and home education would be considered at the next meeting of Education PDS Committee on 27^th January 2014.  It was requested that the children missing education report include information on the proportion of Education Fixed Penalty Notices that were issued for persistent truancy and the effect that the Fixed Penalty Notices had on the school attendance of children and young people, as well as providing details on the number of missing children in the Borough and the work that was undertaken to trace these children.  It was requested that the home education report include information on the number of children being home educated across the Borough, including the age of these children and the level of support that was available to their parents and carers.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.