Agenda item

The Committee received the report on elective home education and an overview of parental rights to home educate their children and outline the support work the authority undertook in this area, as detailed within the circulated report.

The Chairperson had requested this report on was presented to the Committee, following the sad death of a child in Pembrokeshire, who had not been seen by any agency for some time. It was highlighted that elective home education was not the same as home tuition.

It was noted that parents had an obligation to inform the Council if they wanted to deregister their child from a school roll. However, if a child had never been on a school roll or moved into the area there was no legal requirement to inform any organisation of the parents’ choice to educate at home. It was outlined that parents had to ensure the education that their children received was suitable to their age, ability and aptitude. It was recognised that this was a difficult to define as it would vary from child to child. Parents of home educated children, which the Council were aware of, had to demonstrate that suitable education provision was being provided. However, this could be as simple as an annual letter. Members were informed that there were currently 103 known children that were being educated at home and this figure was the highest it had been and continued to increase. It was highlighted that this figure was believed to be higher as there were a number of children that were not known to the Council.

The Council offered a support service through a part time teacher, but there was no obligation for parents to have this support and there was no legal educational basis for the support officer to insist that the child was seen or spoken with. Neath Port Talbot complies fully with its statutory responsibilities and Education Service had increased the support services offered. This support was on curriculum and directing them to links for support. It was highlighted that the support role was not a social worker role but if there were concerns then statutory safeguarding guidelines would be followed. Members queried how long it took for support to be offered to families that deregistered their children from a school. Officers explained that contact would be made straight away to offer support and the part time teacher was experienced and effective at building relationships with families. An annual review was also offered to all children. Members asked if all 103 families had taken up the support offered by the Service. Officers explained that different levels of support had been taken up and some families were more receptive than others. Some families send in a letter explaining that they do not want any assistance and there were strong support groups for home education that had designed template letters that could be utilised by parents. It was queried how the Council was upholding the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Article 12, Rights of the Child, if the children were not able to be seen by the support officer. It was highlighted that this was an example of a contradiction between two legal frameworks.

It was noted that during 2012 Welsh Government entered into a consultation exercise and recommended substantial changes to the framework for elective home education. However, following a significant number of responses it was decided not to proceed with the proposals. Welsh Government had agreed a new statutory guidance document would be developed by commissioned consultants and was to be issued in May 2015. However, this date had been pushed back and the guidance had not yet been received by local authorities. Members asked why external consultants had been used and whether or not Welsh Government had the resources in house to undertake this work. Officers highlighted that this would be a question for Welsh Government to answer. Members asked if their concerns could be raised with Welsh Government. It was highlighted that the Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board had written to Welsh Government to express their concerns on behalf of all three Local Authorities. The response received was to wait for the issuing of the new guidance.

Members queried if there were any particular characteristics with families who choose to educate their children at home, for example, was there more in a certain age range. Officers explained that there appeared to be no particular pattern, such as age or gender. There was also not a big difference in the months of deregistering; there was a slight increase in January. It was highlighted that there was an apparent correlation between the recent introduction of fixed term penalties for non-attendance and the increase in of families electing to educate their children at home.

Members asked if officers had looked into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a home educated child in Pembrokeshire to try and prevent a similar case in Neath Port Talbot. It was explained that the details of the Pembrokeshire case had not yet been officially released, but officers would do so once they were. Officers informed Members that the issue had been considered twice by the Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board. It was highlighted that the difficulty was with the children that were not known to education services, because they had never been registered with a school in the area. The Service worked with home education networks to try and have an open dialogue to receive information about families that were unknown. It was noted that some support networks were more prepared to engage with the Service than others. Members queried how some children could be unknown as they must have been registered at birth and schools forecast the numbers that were expected in nursery. It was explained that the forecast figures were not exact and families moved in and out of the area. If children had never been registered in a school it was very difficult to track them. It was agreed that the list of elective home educated children would be checked against child in need and child protection registers. Members highlighted that children that were educated at home could be less likely to engage with the community and interact with their peers.

Members asked if there was any data on attainment of children educated at home and it was confirmed that there was not. Members asked if families choosing to educate their children at home tended to be for their whole school careers or for just part of it. It was explained that it varied and children were taken out at different ages, it was unusual for children to be put back into school after being taken out.

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.