Recommendations & Conclusions
4 items
2
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Rejected
The next iteration of the Government’s guidance for local authorities and parents must set out a clearer vision for a ‘suitable’ education - including the levels of numeracy and literacy which it would usually expect students to have achieved before they move on to later education, training or employment. This …
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The next iteration of the Government’s guidance for local authorities and parents must set out a clearer vision for a ‘suitable’ education - including the levels of numeracy and literacy which it would usually expect students to have achieved before they move on to later education, training or employment. This vision should take into account the different paths that children with SEND might take. (Paragraph 20) What do we know about children who are home-educated?
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects setting out a centralised clearer vision for a 'suitable' education in guidance, stating that local authorities already have the ability to specify literacy and numeracy levels on a case-by-case basis. It suggests this area may be considered in a future guidance review, …
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Department for Education
12
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Rejected
Many children with SEND may be happiest educated at home, but this should absolutely not be a choice that parents are forced to make for lack of the right support. We accept that what begins as a negative choice can become positive over time, but support must be in place …
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Many children with SEND may be happiest educated at home, but this should absolutely not be a choice that parents are forced to make for lack of the right support. We accept that what begins as a negative choice can become positive over time, but support must be in place so that families do not have to make that forced choice in the first place. Our predecessor Committee’s report on Special educational needs and disabilities recommended “that the Department for Education explores the potential for creating a neutral role, allocated to every parent or carer with a child when a request is made for a needs assessment, which has the responsibility for co-ordinating all statutory SEND processes including the annual review, similar to the role of the Independent Reviewing Officer for looked-after children.” (Education Committee, First Report of Session 2019, Special educational needs and disabilities, HC 20, para 52). We believe that an independent, neutral role such as this would also be invaluable in ensuring that children with SEND are not forced into home education for lack of adequate school support, and that families who do choose EHE for children with SEND receive the support and information they need to make that choice.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to create an independent, neutral role for SEND support, stating that existing SEND support mechanisms and local information, advice, and support services (SENDIASS) already provide sufficient access to support.
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Department for Education
13
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Rejected
In light of the evidence we heard on children with SEND, the Department must reconsider the potential for creating an independent, neutral role, allocated to every parent or carer with a child when a request is made for a needs assessment, which has the responsibility for co-ordinating all statutory SEND …
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In light of the evidence we heard on children with SEND, the Department must reconsider the potential for creating an independent, neutral role, allocated to every parent or carer with a child when a request is made for a needs assessment, which has the responsibility for co-ordinating all statutory SEND processes including the annual review, similar to the role of the Independent Reviewing Officer for looked-after children. This role would support families with the choice to EHE, and help ensure that any such choice was made in a truly informed way, and in the best interests of the child and their family.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the creation of a new independent, neutral role for parents of children with SEND, stating that existing SENDIASS services and statutory duties already provide sufficient support.
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Department for Education
33
Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home Educa…
Rejected
The Government must place a duty on every local authority to ensure that home- educated children and young people have fair access to centres where they can sit accredited public examinations, with the Government meeting the entry costs for those exams. The Department for Education must also work to establish …
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The Government must place a duty on every local authority to ensure that home- educated children and young people have fair access to centres where they can sit accredited public examinations, with the Government meeting the entry costs for those exams. The Department for Education must also work to establish the appropriate level of entitlement, to which examinations the entitlement will apply, and the additional funding the Department will commit to support this. (Paragraph 124) 44 Strengthening Home Education
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Government response AI summary
The government states parents are financially responsible for exam costs and does not commit to meeting them. While a consultation proposed a duty on local authorities to provide support, details will be published later and remain subject to further discussion.
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Department for Education