Concerns about Suitability of Elective Home Education provision

L Thorn made this Freedom of Information request to Havering Borough Council

Waiting for an internal review by Havering Borough Council of their handling of this request.

From: L Thorn

3 August 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

I read that you had 114 children registered as Electively Home
Educated in 2009. This request concerns children currently
registered as receiving EHE in Hartlepool - for the purposes of
this FOI request , these children are either de-registered from a
school or have never been registered with a school.

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?

B) I would also appreciate it if this information could be broken
down into categories:

1. whether they feel that no education is taking place?

2. 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'?

3. whether there are concerns because the family have not
implemented a structured approached?

4.or whether the fact that the national Curriculum is not being
followed is causing concern?

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?

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

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?

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)

Yours faithfully,

L Thorn

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

4 August 2009

Dear Sir/Madam

Acknowledgement of Information Request - Home educated children

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information received on 3rd
August 2009. Your email is being considered and you will receive a
response to your request as soon as possible.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows authorities 20 working days,
following date of receipt, in which to respond to requests. You may be
aware the legislation defines a number of exemptions which may prevent
release of the information you have requested. If any of the exemption
categories apply then the information will not be released. In these
cases, we will inform you of any exemptions we have applied together with
our reasons for withholding the information and your rights of appeal.

Please bear in mind the legislation allows access to information 'held' by
the Council and not for the creation of new information or opinion.
Therefore, we may only be able to supply documents or data that contain
the information we hold in response to your request.

There may be a fee payable for the supply of information. This will be
calculated and you will be informed if a charge applies. In this event,
the fee must be paid before the information is released.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information regarding the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is
available from the following address:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane
Wilmslow, Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
[1]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Mrs P Lynch

Information Governance Team
Legal Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [2][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[3]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure is
strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure
this email and any attachments to it are free of viruses."

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of the
London Borough of Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal
privilege
and are intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure
is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to
ensure this e-mail and any attachments to it are free from viruses.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Havering Borough Council request email]
3. http://www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

12 August 2009

Dear Mr Thorn

Thank you for your request received 3rd August 2009 which is being dealt
with as a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Unfortunately I am unable to identify the information from the details you
have provided. Please respond to the following query from the service, so
that they can locate any records held by the London Borough of Havering.
Your request can then be considered and you will receive a response as
soon as possible.

* You mention 114 children in 'Hartlepool'. Your request has been
received by Havering. Could you please advise if you require
information from the London Borough of Havering please

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows authorities 20 working days,
following date of receipt, in which to respond to requests. However the
20 day working day clock is suspended whilst awaiting clarification of the
above.

You may be aware the legislation defines a number of exemptions which may
prevent release of the information you have requested. If any of the
exemption categories apply then the information will not be released. In
these cases, we will inform you of any exemptions we have applied together
with our reasons for withholding the information and your rights of
appeal.

There may a fee payable for the supply of information. This will be
calculated and you will be informed if a charge applies. In this event,
the fee must be paid before the information is released.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information regarding the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is
available from the following:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House, Water Lane
Wilmslow, Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
[1]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely
Mrs P Lynch

Information Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [2][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[3]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure is
strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure
this email and any attachments to it are free of viruses."

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of the
London Borough of Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal
privilege
and are intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure
is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to
ensure this e-mail and any attachments to it are free from viruses.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Havering Borough Council request email]
3. http://www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

Link to this

From: L Thorn

18 August 2009

Dear Accessinfo Accessinfo,

I apologise for the typographical error which caused me to
substitute the word 'Hartlepool' for 'Havering'. I was under the
impression that, on the same day that I submitted my original
request, I had submitted a follow up email to Havering Borough
Council through the 'What Do They Know' website, acknowledging my
mistake and confirming that I was referring to children registered
as resident in Havering.

For confirmation, please could you provide me with information
about the 114 children registered as being Electively Home Educated
in HAVERING. I trust this follow up email will be sufficient for
you to understand exactly what information I am requesting. Should
you require me to submit another Freedom of Information request
restating my original query I will certainly do so.

Yours sincerely,

L Thorn

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

27 August 2009

Attachment Information provided by Social Care Learning.pdf
62K Download View as HTML

Attachment Information 2 provided by Children Young People s Services.pdf
125K Download View as HTML

Attachment Information 1 provided by Children Young People s Services.pdf
22K Download View as HTML

Dear Sir/Madam

Access to Information - Home Educated Children

I refer to your recent request for information made under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. Your request has been considered and the
information provided by Children & Young Peoples Services (parts 1 & 2)
and Social Care & learning is attached.

I trust the information is of use to you and will close your request.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request has been
handled you have the right to make a complaint. Please put the details in
writing and return to me at the above email address, your complaint will
then be dealt with in line with our corporate complaints procedure. You
also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner at the
following address:

Office of the Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Mrs P Lynch

Information Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [1][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[2]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure is
strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure
this email and any attachments to it are free of viruses."

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of the
London Borough of Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal
privilege
and are intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure
is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to
ensure this e-mail and any attachments to it are free from viruses.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Havering Borough Council request email]
2. http://www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

Link to this

From: L Thorn

27 August 2009

Dear Mrs Lynch, Accessinfo,

Thank you for your response. I note that you had 11% of cases in
which no education seemed to be taking place, and a further 20% for
whom the education officer had various concerns. I am seeking
further clarification of these points as follows:

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 concerns for the 20% mentioned seemed to be either that the
families refused initial/ongoing contact with the LA or those who
had elected to home educate in year 11. Please could you give the
percentage of children for whom there has been difficulty in
maintaining contact, and indicate whether these families have opted
to provide a statement of educational philosophy instead (any face
to face contact with the family not actually being required under
law or government guidance at the present time).

Please could you also 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.

Would you also indicate what percentage of the aforementioned 20%
are families choosing to home educate in year 11 to avoid
prosecution for long term truancy, and please clarify whether, in
the experience of the Havering Education Officers, home education
used as an excuse to avoid prosecution for truancy only by parents
of year 11 pupils?

Yours sincerely,

L Thorn

Link to this

Tania Berlow left an annotation (30 August 2009)

L- I do not think they will answer your response .
Maybe ask again in a different way.
I used last years figures of 125 children
I would ask them
1)whether the further 20% was 24 children and to split it into
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
b) How many had refused to answer any correspondance at all
c) of the people considered avoiding truancy , how many of them had also been assessed as not having acess to a suitable education being provided by the parents

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

1 September 2009

Dear Mr Thorn

Acknowledgement of Information Request - Home education provision

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information received on 27th
August 2009. Your email is being considered and you will receive a
response to your request as soon as possible. Paragraphs 2,3 & 5 of your
request will be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
any other issues raised in your email will be dealt with direct by the
service.

Please bear in mind the legislation allows access to information 'held' by
the Council and not for the creation of new information or opinion.
Therefore, we may only be able to supply documents or data that contain
the information we hold in response to your request.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows authorities 20 working days,
following date of receipt, in which to respond to requests. You may be
aware the legislation defines a number of exemptions which may prevent
release of the information you have requested. If any of the exemption
categories apply then the information will not be released. In these
cases, we will inform you of any exemptions we have applied together with
our reasons for withholding the information and your rights of appeal.

There may be a fee payable for the supply of information. This will be
calculated and you will be informed if a charge applies. In this event,
the fee must be paid before the information is released.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information regarding the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is
available from the following address:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane
Wilmslow, Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
[1]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Mrs P Lynch

Information Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [2][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[3]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure is
strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure
this email and any attachments to it are free of viruses."

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of the
London Borough of Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal
privilege
and are intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure
is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to
ensure this e-mail and any attachments to it are free from viruses.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Havering Borough Council request email]
3. http://www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

Link to this

Tania Berlow left an annotation ( 1 September 2009)

hi L can u update the status of this. :>) T

Link to this

From: L Thorn

2 September 2009

Dear Accessinfo Accessinfo,

I have been considering my request for clarification, and I wonder
if the following will make my request clearer and enable you to
answer it more easily:

1) For the 11% of children who were deemed to have no education, my
original request for clarification still stands:

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.

2) For the 20% of children for whom there are 'various concerns' I
wish to rephrase my question:

Assuming, that 20% of 125 is 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

b) How many had refused to answer any correspondence at all

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.

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.

Yours sincerely,

L Thorn

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

2 September 2009

Dear Mr Thorn,

Thank you for your email received 2nd September 2009 containing your
revised request for information which supersedes your original request
dated 27th August 2009.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows authorities 20 working days,
following date of receipt, in which to respond to requests. You may be
aware the legislation defines a number of exemptions which may prevent
release of the information you have requested. If any of the exemption
categories apply then the information will not be released. In these
cases, we will inform you of any exemptions we have applied together with
our reasons for withholding the information and your rights of appeal.

Please bear in mind the legislation allows access to information 'held' by
the Council and not for the creation of new information or opinion.
Therefore, we may only be able to supply documents or data that contain
the information we hold in response to your request.

There may be a fee payable for the supply of information. This will be
calculated and you will be informed if a charge applies. In this event,
the fee must be paid before the information is released.

Yours sincerely

Mrs P Lynch

Information Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [1][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[2]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure is
strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure
this email and any attachments to it are free of viruses."

>>> L Thorn <[FOI #15884 email]> 09/02/09 8:39 am
>>>
Dear Accessinfo Accessinfo,

I have been considering my request for clarification, and I wonder
if the following will make my request clearer and enable you to
answer it more easily:

1) For the 11% of children who were deemed to have no education, my
original request for clarification still stands:

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.

2) For the 20% of children for whom there are 'various concerns' I
wish to rephrase my question:

Assuming, that 20% of 125 is 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

b) How many had refused to answer any correspondence at all

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.

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.

Yours sincerely,

L Thorn

show quoted sections

Link to this

Tania Berlow left an annotation (23 September 2009)

Can you remember to please remind them that the new time limit is up on wed 30th or internal review it now and complain that a clarification should not take another 20 working days

Link to this

From: L Thorn

23 September 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Havering Borough
Council's handling of my FOI request 'Concerns about Suitability of
Elective Home Education provision' on the grounds that a
clarification of a response should not need another 20 days to
answer!

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...

Yours faithfully,

L Thorn

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

24 September 2009

Dear Mr Thorn,
To clear up your complaint regarding Freedom of Information request no.
AIR2459-803654 and the way in which you say it has been handled.
I would advise that on 27th August, a response was sent to you in relation
to your Freedom of Information request no.AIR2399-793334.
You then sent in an email requesting further clarification on points of
that said response.
This was then treated an an new request, given that there was additional
information being asked for within 'the clarification'. This was then
logged in the usual way, to which an acknowledgement was sent to you on
1st September.
On 2nd September you sent in another email varying your request of the
27th September. The dates were then revised and treated as being received
2nd September 2009 and information due back to you 20 days later, that
date being 30th September 2009.
The response to your request will be sent to you by 30th September, before
if possible.
You will appreciate that this is a busy office and each request is dealt
with in a fair and professional manor.
I trust this clarifies the matter, but if you do wish to discuss further I
would be happy to talk to you. I can be contacted on the below mentioned
number.
Yours sincerely,

Miss Taylor
Information Governance Officer
01708 43518

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of the
London Borough of Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal
privilege
and are intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure
is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to
ensure this e-mail and any attachments to it are free from viruses.

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

28 September 2009

Dear Mr Thorn,

Access to Information - Elective Home Education Provision

I refer to your recent request for information made under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. Your request has been considered and the
information we hold is attached.

I trust the information is of use to you and will close your request.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request has been
handled you have the right to make a complaint. Please put the details in
writing and return to me at the above email address, your complaint will
then be dealt with in line with our corporate complaints procedure. You
also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner at the
following address:

Office of the Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Miss Taylor

Information Governance Team

Information Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [1][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[2]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure is
strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure
this email and any attachments to it are free of viruses."

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of the
London Borough of Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal
privilege
and are intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure
is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to
ensure this e-mail and any attachments to it are free from viruses.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Havering Borough Council request email]
2. http://www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

Link to this

From: L Thorn

28 September 2009

Dear Accessinfo Accessinfo,

I do not see an attachment on the message. Please resend with the
attachment. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

L Thorn

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

28 September 2009

Attachment Service Info 280909.pdf
19K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Thorn,
Please accept my apologies for the error.
Regards,
Miss Taylor

>>> L Thorn <[FOI #15884 email]> 28/09/2009
12:11:16 >>>
Dear Accessinfo Accessinfo,

I do not see an attachment on the message. Please resend with the
attachment. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

L Thorn

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: L Thorn

19 October 2009

Dear Accessinfo Accessinfo,

I'm not sure I quite understand the position here. It's seems
illogical for a parent to declare themselves to be Electively Home
Educating a child and then to volunteer the information that no
education is taking place.

Please confirm the situation - are these parents really EHE if they
make the statement that no education is taking place? Or are they
parents of children who have been excluded from school and who do
not wish to take on the job of educating the children themselves?
Or are the parents adopting a course of Autonomous Education which
Havering does not accept as a valid method of education?

Yours sincerely,

L Thorn

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

19 October 2009

Mr Thorn,
I have forwarded you email to the service.
I will come back to you when I have a response.
Regards,
Miss Taylor

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of the
London Borough of Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal
privilege
and are intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure
is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to
ensure this e-mail and any attachments to it are free from viruses.

Link to this

From: Accessinfo Accessinfo
Havering Borough Council

26 October 2009

Information Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [1][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[2]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
intended only for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above.
Any unauthorised use, retention, distribution, copying or disclosure is
strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
and delete this email from your system.
WARNING: It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure
this email and any attachments to it are free of viruses."

>>> Accessinfo 10/26/09 12:19 pm >>>

Dear Mr Thorn,

Following your email dated19th October 2009 with a query on the response
you received to your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

I am pleased to advise you that I have now received the following response
from the service, which I trust is of use to you.

Query

I'm not sure I quite understand the position here. It's seems

illogical for a parent to declare themselves to be Electively Home
Educating a child and then to volunteer the information that no education
is taking place.

Please confirm the situation - are these parents really EHE if they make
the statement that no education is taking place? Or are they parents of
children who have been excluded from school and who do not wish to take on
the job of educating the children themselves? Or are the parents adopting
a course of Autonomous Education which Havering does not accept as a valid
method of education?

Response from Social Care & Learning

On most occasions they are parents that have chosen to Home Educate rather
than face the prospect of being prosecuted for non attendance.

Children within The London Borough of Havering when excluded from school
are referred to the Inclusions Team, not Home Education Service.

No parent has declared their intention of adopting a course of Autonomous
Education.

Yours sincerely

Mrs P Lynch

Information Governance Team
Legal & Democratic Services
Town Hall
London Borough of Havering
Email: [3][Havering Borough Council request email]

Living Ambition - aiming for the highest quality of life in London
[4]www.havering.gov.uk/livingambition

"This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of the LB
Havering, are confidential, may be subject to legal privilege and are
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References

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L Thorn left an annotation (26 October 2009)

Still don't see the logic in any parent saying 'we are home educating to avoid prosecution for non attendance at school, but we are not providing an education'. Surely if this is the case it would be fairly straightforward to obtain a SAO. Liz Kelly, the EHE visitor, is on holiday this week, only working during school term time (?) but I will ring her next Monday to get clarification on this point.

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L Thorn left an annotation (19 November 2009)

Clarification: EHE used as a 'get out of jail free' card by parents avoiding prosecution for truancy. Parents who then state they are unable to provide EHE are given support and advice, with emphasis on life skills, in some cases, and EHE worker returns within 3 months. If no progress is made, then family referred to the 'inclusion unit' and is no longer classed as being EHE. Comments from Havering suggest that EHE community can almost be divided up into two groups, those that are really EHEing their children, and those that use it as a way out, Badman review supposed to be a way of resolving the problems in the latter group.

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