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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Response to supplementary questionnaire to review of elective home education'.

EHE Consultation Response

  1. Do you think the current system for safeguarding children who are educated at home is adequate? Please le us know why you think that.

Yes - We do not always have contact with the child; we cannot ensure every child is safeguarded

  1. Do you think that home-educated children are able to achieve the following five ECM outcomes? Please let us know why you think that.

Be healthy

Yes - However we are not able to offer any evidence that all of the ECM outcomes are being met. Parents would not necessarily be working towards the ECM outcomes.

Stay Safe

Yes - As above

Enjoy & Achieve

Yes - As above

Make a Positive Contribution

Yes - As above

Achieve Economic Wellbeing

Yes - As above

  1. Do you think that Government and LA have an obligation to ensure that all children in this country are able to achieve the five outcomes? If you answered yes, how do you think Government should ensure this?

Yes - EHE families are not currently under any obligation to meet with the LA, or ensure that they are able to achieve the five outcomes. If guidance stated that families should have contact with the LA we could then support families if required to achieve the five outcomes. Families should be able to achieve these ECM outcomes.

  1. Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for supporting home educating families? If answered yes, what should they be?

Yes - Similar reason as above but also funding be available if families want their child to go onto college, examinations or take part in positive activities

  1. Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for monitoring home educating families? If answered yes, what should they be?

Yes - LA's currently do not have any statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education. We keep a database of the families we know about but we do know that there are a number of families who we do not know about and this does make it difficult to monitor EHE families, although some families do not want the LA to monitor them at all. If guidance stated that all families needed to log that they are home educating we would then be able to offer services to families if they required it.

  1. Some people have expressed concern that home education could be used as a cover for child abuse, forced marriage, domestic servitude or other forms of child neglect. What do you think the Government should do to ensure this does not happen?

I am not sure what the Government needs to do to ensure safeguarding. Professionals who work within a LA are aware of the five ECM outcomes and when working with families offer support around these and sometimes there is a need to refer to Child Protection teams. We can only work together with other agencies so that if needs are disclosed that support is put into place. When Contact point comes on board we may be able to identify more families who are without education provision or have decided to home educate and thus contact can be made and support offered if required. Some young people are more at risk than others whether they are in school, out of school a young mother or a traveller. Its about professionals following good practice and hopefully working together with children and families so that the ECM outcomes can be met.