Agenda item

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, the Strategic Director for Children and Young People’s Services and the Assistant Director, Education, attended the meeting to provide a report on Elective Home Education (EHE) in Rotherham.

The Chair expressed her disappointment that the report had been submitted for consideration had not been focussed on the areas of concern that members of the committee had requested,  these had been to seek assurance that children who were being elective home educated were receiving an effective education and were also being safeguarded from harm.

The report stated that Elective home education (EHE) was the term that was used to describe a legal choice by parents to provide education for their children at home - or at home and in some other way which they choose - instead of sending them to school full-time. It was noted that in these circumstances the local authority had a statutory duty to establish the identities, so far as it was possible to do so, of children in their area who were being educated at home and as such may be at risk or not receiving a suitable education.

The Assistant Director, Education noted that there were many factors why a parent may choose to de-register their child from school such as their own philosophical position regarding how their child should be educated, or having concerns regarding the suitability of the school environment for their child. The Assistant Director noted that revised guidance had been received from the Department for Education regarding EHE had been issued to local authorities in 2019 but advised that further planned consultation with local authorities had been delayed due to the pandemic.

The Assistant Director noted the varying profile of children across Rotherham who were being educated at home included those who suffered from school anxiety and those whose parents made a philosophical choice to educate at home. The Assistant Director advised that the most recent figures showed an increase in the number of children being educated at home and noted that this mirrored a trend seen across the country during the pandemic. It was noted that the increase in numbers of children being educated at home had presented challenges in ensuring that all parents who were home educating received suitable support.

The Assistant Director advised that while the decision to home educate was that of the parent, that every step would be taken where possible to discourage this action and ensure that a child stayed on roll at a school.  It was noted that the regulations surrounding EHE were quite broad and were not prescriptive regarding what a “suitable education” was, and that it was the requirement of the local authority to ensure that each child received. The Assistant Director advised that if the education a child was receiving at home was not suitable or adequate then a school attendance order could be issued. The Assistant Director advised that a communication had been received from the Department for Education regarding the processes that should be followed regarding ensuring that children being educated at home were receiving a suitable education.

The Interim Strategic Director for Children and Young People’s Services noted the difficulties that were being experienced nationwide by local authorities in ensuring that being children educated at home were receiving a suitable education in the context of increasing numbers and lack of clear guidance on what a suitable education was.

The Strategic Director for Children and Young People’s Services noted that it was essential for safeguarding that the council ensured it maintained good levels of contact with families where children were being lived at home.

Members welcomed the focus on safeguarding due to concerns that they had previously expressed regarding the risks of radicalisation for children who were being educated at home. Members asked for assurance that officers when visiting families who were home educating were trained to have an awareness of behaviour that may lead to radicalisation. The Assistant Director advised that staff were aware of the issue and noted that further staff development activity in this area was planned. The Assistant Director noted that the best outcomes for children being educated at home were where families had a good relationship with the council.

Members asked whether it may be a potentially better use of resources to focus on activity on keeping children in school rather than supporting them to be educated at home. The Assistant Director advised that the support surrounding EHE at Rotherham was part of a wider support offer to schools and families, and as such resources could not be redirected.

Members asked if the reasons why parents chose to educate their children at home had changed over time. The Assistant Director advised that there had been a change with more children being educated at home due to school anxiety than had been the case previously. It was also noted that some communities, such as the gypsey and traveller community would be more likely to educate children at home than others.

Members asked for further information on the number of children who were educated at home sat formal exams. The Assistant Director advised that the financial responsibility for EHE children, including paying for exams was the responsibility of the parent but noted that if a family has a good relationship with the council then the outcomes for children, including sitting exams and going on to further education in a formal setting improved.

The Chair asked for further information on the reasons why children who had been home educated subsequently returned to school. The Assistant Director advised that the reasons were often financial, but the reason was often a change in the individual circumstances of a family. The Deputy Leader noted the challenges that were faced by families educating at home due the lack of specialist equipment in subjects such as science

.

Members asked how the approach to EHE in Rotherham compared to the approach taken in other areas. The Interim Director noted that Directors of Children’s Services nationally been discussing the challenges of EHE and that the outcomes of these discussions would be fed back to the Department for Education.

The Chair asked for information the characteristics of the current cohort of children being educated at home. The Assistant Director advised that work on this was currently taking place.

The Chair thanked the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, the Strategic Director for Children and Young People’s Services, the Interim Director for Children and Young People’s Services and the Assistant Director, Education for attending the meeting and answering members’ questions.

Resolved: -

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That the recent Department for Education briefing on Elective Home Education be circulated to members of the Improving Lives Select Commission.

3)    That the structure chart and the procedural process document for the Elective Home Education Service be circulated to members of the Improving Lives Select Commission.

4)    That once completed, the detailed analysis of the current cohort of children in Elective Home Education in Rotherham be circulated to members of the Improving Lives Select Commission.

5)    That the most up to date information on exam entry and progression to further education of children who have received Elective Home Education be circulated to members of the Improving Lives Select Commission.