Freedom of Information Request 
AIR2459-803654 
Response from Children & Young People’s Services 
 
1.  In the 11% of cases for whom no education seems to be taking place, how 
does the Education Officer deduce that no education is taking place, and what 
evidence would be required to prove that the children were learning. 
 
The Home Education Officer deduces that no education is taking place 
when parents inform them or the Home education Adviser of this fact 
either by telephone or in person. Alternatively, the Home Education 
Officer would deduce that no education is taking place following receipt 
of a written report from the Home education Adviser, recording absence 
of any evidence or work, written or otherwise following meeting with the 
Elective Home Educator. 
 
Any evidence of learning either written, oral, photographic, recorded or 
craft would be acceptable to demonstrate that learning was taking place. 
     
       2. For the 20% of the children for whom there are ‘various concerns’ I would wish 
 
rephrase my question: 
Assuming, that 20% of 125 are 25 children, please tell me how many children 
fit into each category as follows: 
 
a)  how many were concerns where a parent had sent in a philosophy of        
education and a plan but were not consenting to a visit? 
 
None, at present we do not require a statement of philosophy. 
 
b)  how many had refused to answer any correspondence at all? 
 
 
25 out of 26 refused to answer any correspondence. 
 
c)  of the families considered to be using home education to avoid prosecution 
for truancy, how many of these children had also been assessed as not 
having access to a suitable education being provided by the parents? 
 
 
      20 out of 26 were considered to be using home education to avoid 
      prosecution for truancy. Involvement with the Education Welfare  
      Team had led us to this conclusion. 
 
      As no contact with young people, therefore, unable to assess whether 
      a suitable education was being provided. 
 
d)  please indicate the corresponding school year groups of children for whom 
home education is considered to be a way of avoiding prosecution for 
truancy  
 

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Year 11 - 17 
Year 10 -   2 
Year  9  -   1 
 
3.  Please could you indicate why Havering feels it necessary (for safeguarding  
Reasons) for LA officials to have contact on a yearly basis with children for 
Whom there are no grounds for concern other than they are Home Educated. 
 
So the children can be seen and talked to by a member of the 
Local Authority, in order to satisfy itself that the child is safe and well. 

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