Adult and Cultural Services

Corporate Information Team  Lower Gaolyard

The Courts  Carlisle  CA3 8NA  Fax 01228 606706

Tel 01228 221234  Email [Cumbria County Council request email]

28 August 2009

Your Reference:

Our Reference: -334

Email: [FOI #16034 email]

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Dear Ms Edgley

- DISCLOSURE

REFERENCE: -334

The Council has completed its search for information relating to home educated children which we received on 04 August 2009.

The Council information within the definition of your request.

The information has been provided by the Directorate:

Question A

I would like to know of these children how many are there where the visiting person has concerns that a 'suitable' education is being provided?

Answer A

There are 28 recorded concerns regarding suitability of provision in the past year.

Question B

I would also appreciate it if this information could be broken down into categories: *whether they feel that no education is taking place? *whether they feel that the philosophy of education is inadequate -for example in the case of autonomous or child led learning, that particular child is not appearing to be learning 'enough'? *whether there are concerns because the family have not implemented a structured approached? or whether the fact that the national Curriculum is not being followed is causing concern? *any other concerns? (please give details)

Answer B

Information around concerns is not broken down into categories. We simply question whether provision is suitable for the child's age and ability. We do this regardless of approach/philosophy or curriculum used.

Question C

If there are children in the above 4 categories, please indicate if further steps are being taken- for example, issuance of a School Attendance Order.

Answer C

17 children have been referred to EWOs in locality teams for further action when provision is deemed unsuitable. This is after time and support has been given by Improvement Team staff to reach satisfactory provision. Two of these children have been referred due to an inability to contact the family.

Question D

Please also indicate if any Education Supervision Orders are currently in court for this population.

Answer D

There are currently no Education Supervision Orders in court for this population

Question E

Please can you confirm whether any children who fit into the above categories of concern about 'educational provision suitability' would also therefore be referred to Social Services?

Answer E

No. Children from the above categories would not routinely be referred to Children's Services (Social Care). However the decision on how best to support a child would be made by locality teams.

Question F

Lastly is it possible in your Local Authority that Social Services are involved with a family but that the EHE department do not know of this involvement? (This involvement would be on an on-going basis rather than a one off referral which is found to be of no genuine concern)

Answer F

It is possible that a family is involved with Social Services and this is not known to EHE officers. Social Services cover a very wide remit and not every involvement would impact EHE directly. We would know if safeguarding issues were involved.

Most of the information that we provide in response to Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests will be subject to copyright protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by Cumbria County Council.

However the copyright in other information may be owned by another person or organisation, as indicated on the information itself.

You are free to use any information supplied for your own non-commercial research or private study purposes. The information may also be used for any other purpose allowed by a limitation or exception in copyright law, such as news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example by publishing the information in analogue or digital form, including on the internet, will require the permission of the copyright owner. Where the copyright owner is the Council you will need to make an application under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005.

For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation you must apply to the owner to obtain their permission.

If you have a complaint about the way we have responded to your request or wish us to review our decision please write to:

Customer Services

Cumbria County Council

FREEPOST NWW6059A, The Courts, Carlisle CA3 8NA

Tel: 0800 121 8800 E-mail: [email address]

If you are not satisfied with the Council's internal review of your complaint you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner:

FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution

Information Commissioners Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF

http://www.ico.gov.uk

Yours

Building pride in Cumbria