Agenda item

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 pupils that had been educated at home, the Senior Education Welfare Officer reported that the Local Authority did not hold the information but there was national anecdotal evidence that a number of home educated children went on to study at university, albeit sometimes a couple of years behind their peer group.

In response to a question surrounding attainment for less advantaged pupils, the Senior Education Welfare Officer reported that Bromley had a good reputation in terms of home education and there was a good, established liaison relationship with a number of families.  There were only two cases where the home education was deemed to be inappropriate.  A number of families that were home educating in Bromley were happy to let Education Welfare Officers into their home to monitor the education provided.

The Chairman highlighted that one of the main concerns was around safeguarding as it was possible for families to disappear.  The Committee noted that the Local Authority had a responsibility for safeguarding young people.  The Chairman further noted that there had been a number of cases recently publicised where it appeared that schools were encouraging children into home education and sought assurances that this was not happening in Bromley.  The Senior Education Welfare Officer reported that when this type of practice came to the attention of officers in Bromley work was undertaken with schools to provide the support necessary to keep the young people in a formal education setting.

In response to a question concerning whether successful home educators were used as a peer mentor group for those new to home education, the Senior Education Welfare Officer reported that the Local Authority did not signpost to specific individuals.  However, once a parent had elected to home educate, a Child Missing Education Officer would undertake a home visit and the parents would be provided with an information pack at this very first visit which would signpost the parents to organisations that could provide the necessary support.

The Chairman thanked the officers for the comprehensive report that had been provided and requested that the report be forwarded to the Children’s Board for information.  The Chairman further suggested that this could be an interesting topic for the Education Select Committee (due to be established for the 2016/17 municipal year) to considered.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and forwarded to the Children’s Board for information.