Agenda item

This report discusses the Council’s role and responsibilities, policies, and procedures with regards to Elective Home Education and Unregistered Schools.

Elizabeth Spearman, Head of ACE and Admissions presented a report on Elective Home Education and Unregistered Schools.

Elective Home Education

The meeting was informed that any parent or carer could elect to home educate their children.  The role of the local authority is to ensure that all children who are of statutory school age are in receipt of a 'suitable education'.  As a result, the local authority must engage with the family to understand how they are educating their child.  As most families cooperate with us, there has been no need in LBHF to commence legal proceedings to enforce engagement.  The number of home schooled children has increased nationally.  In response to a question from the Chair to understand the reasons for home schooling, it was reported that parents/carers home school their children due to: -

·                Life style choices – They did not want to be part of the system.

·                A reaction to an event – They did not receive their 1^st choice school or an issue happened at their school which they were unhappy with.

·                High level of social care – They do not want agencies to be in contact with their children.

It was noted that if the local authority had any concerns about a parent/carer’s ideology/behaviour they would be referred to PREVENT and other agencies.

Councillor Sanderson inquired about the DfE funding for work with unregistered schools to improve the home schooling register.  Officers noted that there was currently no legal requirement to keep a register or for parents to inform us that they are home schooling their children.  However, locally we do maintain a register and currently have 88 children known to the LA as being home schooled.  Other than those withdrawn from school, we mainly rely on local intelligence to determine the numbers.  Any funding received will assist with contacting unregistered schools which may have children who are being electively home educated on roll.

Vic Daniels and Matt Jenkins asked about the impact of permanent exclusions on home schooling.  It was reported that some home schooling arises because of exclusions.  Schools have the responsibility to inform the local authority within 24 hours of a permanent exclusion.  The local authority is obliged to offer an alternative place within 6 days.  If the child is within the system, we can track them.  The difficulty arises when they are not.

In response to a question from Vic Daniels about measuring the child’s attainment, it was noted that home schooled children do not follow the national curriculum, sit SATS nor take GCSEs.  They cannot be tested nor examined by LA officers.  The home education adviser therefore uses other methods to assess progress and work with parents to ensure that suitable education is provided.

Nadia Taylor asked how do we determine the quality of education provided, officers responded that the law defines that a child should receive a suitable education, although there is currently no definition in law of suitable.  The home education adviser works with the parents to ensure that education is age appropriate and progress is being made year on year.  Steve Miley noted that the legal duty is for a parent to provide a suitable education. The responsibility falls with the parent/carer rather than the local authority.

Councillor Sanderson and Nadia Taylor expressed concern that the home education adviser does not see the child more than once a year.  Officers replied that where there were concerns a child would be seen more than once but that in many boroughs there is no routine contact with home educated children. ,In LBHF other social care professionals would also be alerted if there were social concerns.

Steve Miley noted that there is a strong lobby by local government for tighter monitoring of home schooled children.  However, there is a strong counter lobby by parents that they have the right to educate their children the way they see fit and do not in law have to have any contact with the Local Authority.  Therefore, Local authorities must use soft influence to get results.

Nandini Ganesh asked how does the local authority work with special education needs home schooled children.  Officers responded that children who have an EHC plan would be retained on the school roll, if they are at a speacialist provision.  The home education adviser and an Education psychologist would support the parent to provide a suitable education which meet the needs of the child. They will ensure that every aspect of the plan is followed.

In response to Cllr Loveday’s question regarding how the service operates, it was reports that 1 officer works 2 days a week during term-time.  We are exploring increasing this to 2.5 days per week.  A minimum of 88 visits are carried out per year.  Everyone is seen during the year except where an endorsement had been received from an education professional confirming that a suitable education was provided.  Over the past 8 years, we have not commenced legal action in LBHF against a parent/carer for non-engagement with the local authority.  It was noted that the Westway travellers site was maintained by RBKC.  However, we have 4 travellers’ children who are home schooled in the past couple of years.  The service does not deal with school non-attendance.

Councillor De’Ath asked if there was any correlation between increased exclusions and managed moves.   Managed moves are organised between schools and it was noted that managed moves were encouraged where it is beneficial to a child’s education.  The authority would not encourage nor allow schools to encourage home schooling after an exclusion.

It was reported that children do not have a say in their choice of education.  The local authority is not required to meet the parent/carer in their home setting nor allowed to speak to the child alone.  Naida Taylor expressed her concern about the children’s safeguarding.  She was astonished that the home education adviser was not allowed to speak to the child alone.  It was noted that this is currently the law but that local authorities have been lobbying to have the opportunity to speak to children alone.

Unregistered Schools

The meeting was informed that an establishment is categorised as a school when it offers full time education for 5 children or more.  This is different from supplementary education establishments. Many people operate unregistered schools without knowing that they are breaking the law.    The Council is seeking some DfE funding to identify ‘out of school’ education settings, advise unregistered schools of their options and support supplementary schools.

Councillor Sanderson asked whether home schooling 5 or more children would constitute a school.  The meeting was informed that if the children were from the same family it would not constitute an unregistered school.  In response to Councillor Loveday’s question regarding unregistered school closures, the meeting noted that 2 places had been closed in the past 4 - 5 years.  One obtained registration afterwards.

Cllr Loveday asked for more details on the 2 closed schools. 

Action by Elizabeth Spearman, Head of ACE and Admissions