Decision details

Elective Home Education

Decision Maker: Education Scrutiny Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Decisions:

Frances Molloy, School Attendance/Children Missing Education Lead, was welcomed to the meeting.

 

The report presented explained that the Elective Home Education Team, located with the School Improvement Service, provided support for families who had elected to make arrangements for their children's education other than school. It outlined the support available from the team, the types of challenge applied when concerns were identified and the limits of the local authority's ability to monitor and report on attainment within the current legislative framework.

 

The Committee was informed that parents were not required to give an explanation or decision as to why they elected to home educate. Elective home education was seen as a viable option for people in an area where there was a body of support from other home educators.

 

Concerns were raised about elective home education. It was noted that LCC did not have a duty to visit homes. LCC did not have routine powers to go out to homes to investigate if suitable education was being made. Where families had decided to home educate, there was no requirement to follow the curriculum and no requirement to sit exams. LCC did however liaise with the home educated families and the local colleges to arrange drop-ins on how to achieve the best transition into post 16 years education.

 

Resolved: That;

  i.  The arrangements in place within Lancashire to support families who are home educating be noted.

  ii.  The arrangements in place within Lancashire when it is determined that suitable education may not be in place through elective home education arrangements be noted.

  iii.  The limitations on the identification/reporting of the attainment of home educated children be noted

  iv.  A Notice of Motion be produced supporting the proposed changes under the Home Education (Duty of Local Authorities) Bill currently progressing through the House of Lords, for the Full Council meeting on 14 December.

 

 

Date of decision: 28/11/2017

Decided at meeting: 28/11/2017 - Education Scrutiny Committee

Accompanying Documents: