Agenda item

Report ED15069

The Committee considered a report providing information about elective home education in the Borough.

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 the high proportion of secondary pupils receiving elective home education who had previously attended The Priory School.  The Assistant Director: Education confirmed that some communities were culturally more likely to declare home education, such as the gypsy traveller community, but that Bromley schools worked with the families of all their pupils to support children and young people to remain in school.

In considering the reasons cited by some parents and carers declaring elective home education for the 2013/14 academic year, a Member underlined the high proportion of parents and carers who had stated that lack of progress, unhappiness at school or bullying were the main reasons they had chosen to declare home education.  It was important to ensure that schools were aware of their responsibilities to address issues such as bullying and safeguarding, and where such issues were identified, pupils receiving elective home education should be supported back into mainstream education if appropriate.

In discussion, Members expressed serious concerns at the lack of statutory rights for the Local Authority to inspect home education provision, and emphasised the responsibility of the Local Authority to satisfy itself that a child’s right to a suitable education has been safeguarded.  The Assistant Director: Education highlighted that the Bromley Safeguarding Children Board had recently established an Education Safeguarding Sub-Committee, which brought together Safeguarding Leads from schools across the Borough and was well placed to explore potential safeguarding issues around elective home education.  The Local Authority had also taken a lead role in forming the Association of Elective Home Education Professionals, a national organisation which was launched on 26^th February 2015 and aimed to support local authorities to work together on elective home education issues, including safeguarding concerns.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The report be noted;

2)  The Education PDS Committee expresses its concern at the lack of information around elective home education and recommends that further research be undertaken to ensure the safeguarding of children and that elective home education is effective and in conformity with the Local Authority’s duty as the safeguarding authority;

3)  A further report be provided to the Education PDS Committee in the 2015/16 municipal year.