Agenda item

[NOTE:  Councillor G. Jones had previously declared an interest in this item.]

The Committee was informed that Elective Home Education is where parents or guardians decide to provide home-based education for their children instead of sending them to school.  It is not home tuition provided by the Local Education Authority or where a Local Education Authority provides education otherwise than at school.

The Local Authority recognises that elective home education is an aspect of parental choice and therefore aims to encourage good practice in its relationships with home educators.  This is achieved by clearly setting out the policy landscape and by providing information and advice on the roles and responsibilities of the Local Authority and parents in relation to children educated at home.

Parents may choose to exercise their right to educate their children at home and may do so for a variety of reasons.  The reasons themselves should not have any bearing on the Local Authority’s treatment of families who home educate, since our prime interest lies in the parents’ educational provision for their children.

Officers seek to build effective relationships with home educators to safeguard the educational interest and welfare of the children and young people.  Parents who are, or who are considering, home educating are provided with a named contact within the Authority who is familiar with home education policy and practice and has an understanding of the relevant legislation and a range of educational philosophies.

While there is no legal framework for the Local Authority to regularly monitor provision of home education, officers are conscious of the Authority’s wider duties of care and will contact parents to discuss their ongoing home education provision.  The Local Authority is mindful of new Welsh Government non-statutory guidance published in January 2017 which provides a basis for our approach. 

The Local Authority is not legally obliged to provide any resources for children and young people educated at home, however, we shall:-

·       provide advice and support on curriculum matters;

·       provide information on organisations which support home educators;

·       facilitate access to some services e.g. careers, counselling.

The Local Authority has established a database for children educated at home.  All schools will be required to notify the appropriate officer of a parent’s intention to home educate and a record of visits is kept by the officer responsible for this area of work.

The following questions/observations were raised on the report:-

·       Concern was expressed that parents may have the right to choose the education for their children, however, the Authority has certain duties.    The Elective Home Education Adviser explained that there is no specific legal duty to assess but the Local Authority has a statutory duty to make arrangements to enable them to establish the identities, so far as it is possible to do so, of children in their area who are not receiving a suitable education.  She added that the difficulty lies in the interpretation of what is a “suitable education”.  The Head of Curriculum & Wellbeing stated that a clearer commitment from Welsh Government would be of great help as we have a moral duty in this regard;

·       Reference was made to the importance of social skills and concern was expressed that children who are home educated might miss out the social aspect of school life;

·       Reference was made to the 15% of children who leave the education system because of bullying and officers were asked how Carmarthenshire compares with other counties and what are we doing about bullying.  The Head of Curriculum & Wellbeing explained that any accusation of bullying is investigated.  In this regard he welcomed the focus on wellbeing being introduced into the curriculum.  The Head of Education Services informed the Committee that Carmarthenshire has for many years been blazing a trail on work in this area.  Officers try to encourage positive behaviour and early intervention rather than having an anti-bullying policy;

·       Reference was made to the fact that flexi schooling can be very successful, however, it does cause problems for schools in terms of the effect on attendance figure.  The Director explained that all Authorities are in the process of collecting data so that it can be compared.  A package of support is also being developed.  At the moment there is no funding available to support this group of children.  Schools have been penalised in the past for allowing flexi schooling because of the effect on attendance.  Officers are in discussions with Welsh Government on developing a Code for Flexi Schooling as this would benefit both the child and the school;

·       Concern was expressed that the Authority appears to have no control over children who are being home schooled and whether they are learning and officers were asked if it would be possible to get some sort of standardisation for home schooling and whether the Welsh Government could be made aware of the Committee’s concerns in this regard;

·       Asked whether there was any data available in relation to examination pass rates for those children who were home educated.  The Director explained that it was difficult because there are complications with the current system surrounding access to examination centres by children who are home schooled.

RESOLVED

7.1     that the report be received;

7.2     that the Committee receive a report at a future meeting regarding           the positive behaviour approaches being implemented by the           Authority in relation to bullying;

7.3     that officers draft a letter to the Welsh Government expressing the           Committee’s concerns with regard to the problems being           experienced with home schooled and flexi schooled children, for           approval by the Committee prior to despatch.