Independent Review of Home Education 
 
Rationale 
 
Vulnerable children who are being home educated may pose an increased 
concern in terms of their safety, wellbeing and education.  The independent 
review is seeking specific evidence on: 
  i) the  prevalence of ‘vulnerable’ children in your current EHE 
caseload; 
ii) the 
type of vulnerability you have encountered in the past and / or 
are experiencing currently. 
 
Your views as to what measures could be taken to improve the safety, 
wellbeing and education of these children are also sought.   
 
In relation to (i) above:  
 
1. 
What proportion of your current EHE caseload is known to Social 
Care in the following capacities?  Please include open and closed cases. 
 
Type 
Number  
% of caseload 
Section 17 enquiry1 8 
5.2 
Section 47 enquiry2 4 
2.6 
Section 37 (care orders) 
 
 
Children who are or have been subject to 
4 2.6 
child protection plan (or previously on the 
child protection register) 
Other (please specify) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total number of children 12 
7.7 
 
2.  
What proportion of your current caseload do you estimate have 
safeguarding implications? 
 
 
Number  
% of caseload 
Total number of children 
 
 
Parent with mental health issues 
3 1.9 
Child with mental health issues 
1 0.65 
Parent with substance misuse issues 
 
 
Domestic violence 
3 1.9 
Child abuse or neglect (current or previous)  1 0.65 
Other family circumstances 
 
 
Concerns but cannot determine due to 
1 0.65 
                                                 
1 Do not include children who are disabled where there is no concern about parenting or 
quality of EHE. 
2 Do not include cases that did not lead to further action. 
1                                                                                         
20/11/2009 

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inability to see the child 
Other (please describe) 
1 0.65 
See case study 
 
 
 
Concerns about parental ability / capacity to  7 4.5 
undertake home education (not covered 
above).  Please specify reason: 
Inability to organise and manage provision. Lacking the necessary skills 
to provide structure upon which to deliver the learning. 
 
Child with SEN( Autism) and concerns re parental ability to manage 
behaviour/provide a suitable education 
 
 
3. 
Request for case studies 
 
S40 Personal 
a) 
This child, now  , has never attended a main stream school 
 
information
 
 
The programme of home education 
has broken down because the parents have reached the end of 
their ability to educate him and cannot afford outside help. Due to 
his isolation he is unable to enter mainstream school or small group 
setting and fails to engage with a tutor. This illustrates how one 
child can fit into several of the categories indicated above. 
b) 
Single parent, two daughters, the eldest of whom is Home 
Educated .
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
Shortly after the visit I received notification from the mother that she 
no longer wished me to visit and that in future she would submit an 
annual written report. 
    
 
 
2                                                                                         
20/11/2009 

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Additional information 
 
4.  
In your estimation, what proportion of your current caseload is not 
receiving any education?                    6 
 
 
5. 
In your estimation, what proportion are home educating to avoid 
prosecution for attendance issues?      3 
   
6. 
What proportion of EHE youngsters became NEET (please use the 
latest data you have available and note the timeframe in your response). 
 
 
 
 
 
Not Known 
 
 
22.05.09 
 
3                                                                                         
20/11/2009 

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