Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
6
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Not Addressed
Covid-19 appears to have driven a further rise in EHE numbers, the long-term impact of which is not yet known. During the covid-19 pandemic, some may have found that educating at home worked better for them. However, some parents may have chosen EHE without a full understanding of the responsibilities …
Read more
Covid-19 appears to have driven a further rise in EHE numbers, the long-term impact of which is not yet known. During the covid-19 pandemic, some may have found that educating at home worked better for them. However, some parents may have chosen EHE without a full understanding of the responsibilities it involves, risking a negative impact on their children. This highlights the ongoing need for parents to have the right support when making the decision to EHE—or to transition back into school, should they wish. In 2018, our predecessor Committee’s report Forgotten children recommended that “when a pupil is excluded from school for more than five non-consecutive days in a school year, the pupil and their parents or carers should be given access to an independent advocate” to help them navigate the process. (Education Committee, Fifth Report of Session 2017–19, Forgotten children, HC 342, para 47). We believe that such advocates could also play an invaluable role in supporting families who are considering EHE, and ensuring that they make an informed choice that is best for their families.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government outlines existing guidance for exclusions that directs parents to free information services and expects a similar approach for EHE. It also mentions a future duty on local authorities to provide support, but does not specifically address the recommendation for independent advocates.
Read full response →
Department for Education
8
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Not Addressed
When a pupil is excluded from school for more than five non-consecutive days in a school year, the pupil and their parents or carers should be given access to an independent advocate to help them navigate the process. Families considering EHE should also have access to these advocates, to ensure …
Read more
When a pupil is excluded from school for more than five non-consecutive days in a school year, the pupil and their parents or carers should be given access to an independent advocate to help them navigate the process. Families considering EHE should also have access to these advocates, to ensure that they have the information and support they need to make an informed choice for them and their child.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government did not commit to providing independent advocates for excluded pupils or families considering EHE, instead pointing to existing information and advice services. It deferred further details on broader support for home-educating families to a future consultation response.
Read full response →
Department for Education
16
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Not Addressed
Local authorities told us that they lack sufficient powers. It seems to us that the grey area in the Departmental guidance—where there is no legal duty for parents to respond to enquiries about EHE, but the local authority is entitled to conclude that education may not be suitable should those …
Read more
Local authorities told us that they lack sufficient powers. It seems to us that the grey area in the Departmental guidance—where there is no legal duty for parents to respond to enquiries about EHE, but the local authority is entitled to conclude that education may not be suitable should those parents not respond—cannot be conducive to constructive relationships between EHE parents and local authorities.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government stated that the issues of local authority powers regarding EHE and the 'grey area' in guidance were not within the scope of the Children Not In School consultation and therefore would not be addressed in its response.
Read full response →
Department for Education
21
Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Not Addressed
We heard that there is a lack of consistency in the approach local authorities take to support EHE. Departmental guidance is ambiguous and does not provide the necessary clarity on what is expected of them. Ofsted told us that for it to inspect home educating parents would be disproportionate. However, …
Read more
We heard that there is a lack of consistency in the approach local authorities take to support EHE. Departmental guidance is ambiguous and does not provide the necessary clarity on what is expected of them. Ofsted told us that for it to inspect home educating parents would be disproportionate. However, Ofsted did say it would be open to considering additional ways it could support EHE oversight.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government reiterates that Ofsted already assesses local authorities' EHE work during Children’s Social Care inspections, but does not address the conclusion's points about lack of consistency, ambiguous guidance, or Ofsted considering new oversight methods.
Read full response →
Department for Education
23
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Not Addressed
On the whole, local authorities did not see themselves as potential ‘inspectors’ in the Ofsted mould—even though the former Children’s Commissioner called for “at least a once a year, if not once a term” inspection. However, some local authorities would like more powers to see children and to establish whether …
Read more
On the whole, local authorities did not see themselves as potential ‘inspectors’ in the Ofsted mould—even though the former Children’s Commissioner called for “at least a once a year, if not once a term” inspection. However, some local authorities would like more powers to see children and to establish whether they are receiving a suitable education. We heard that local authorities would not make “intrusive visits Strengthening Home Education 41 if we don’t feel they are necessary,” and that children would not have to be seen in the home. By contrast, home educators emphasised to us that the fact of being home-educated did not constitute a safeguarding risk. However, we conclude that it is reasonable for local authorities to seek reassurance that EHE is suitable, and that they must have clear abilities to do so. The former Children’s Commissioner and the Local Government Association were among those calling for more oversight of EHE.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states that Ofsted already assesses local authorities' EHE work as part of Children’s Social Care inspections, but this does not address the recommendation for local authorities to have clear abilities to seek reassurance that EHE is suitable.
Read full response →
Department for Education
28
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Not Addressed
Given the rise in EHE numbers and lack of consistent support from local authorities, the Department should commission and roll out a national training package for all local authority officers with responsibility for EHE—developed with a wide range of stakeholders—so that those officers have a thorough and consistent understanding of …
Read more
Given the rise in EHE numbers and lack of consistent support from local authorities, the Department should commission and roll out a national training package for all local authority officers with responsibility for EHE—developed with a wide range of stakeholders—so that those officers have a thorough and consistent understanding of the duties of and guidance for local authorities. That package should explain the various EHE approaches—possibly in the form of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). All local authority officers with responsibility for EHE must be expected to complete that training as part of their job. (Paragraph 99) Outcomes, assessment and exams for children receiving EHE
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government stated that while it is committed to a registration system for children not in school, decisions on local authority implementation are yet to be made and may or may not include the recommended national training package for EHE officers.
Read full response →
Department for Education