details of evidence presented by NSPCC to support their claims re home education

Dear Elaine

Thank you for your recent email. A reply will be sent to you as soon as
possible. For information, the departmental standard for correspondence
received is that responses should be sent within 20 working days as you
are requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number
2009/0030848.

Thank you.

Central Allocation Team

Public Communications Team

Tel: 0870 0002288
www.dcsf.gov.uk

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Dear Ms Walton,
I refer to your request received on 2 April 2009 under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 asking for evidence from the NSPCC to support their
request for a review of home education.

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and
electronic records, I have established that no information that you
requested is held by this Department, other than that available publicly.

The only information we received from the NSPCC which referred to the DCSF
reviewing legislation was in their response to the consultation on `Revised
Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities in England to identify children not
receiving a suitable education'. Question 6 of the consultation concerned
home educated children. The NSPCC's response to the consultation, including
question 6, is available on their website at
[1]http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/policyand...
GuidanceForNotReceivingSuitableEducation_wdf61238.pdf .

The Department's decision to hold an independent review of home education is
part of its continuing commitment to ensuring that systems for keeping
children safe, and ensuring that they receive a suitable education, are as
robust as possible, rather than in response to requests from any individual
organisations. We have been progressively strengthening the systems and it
is good practice to ensure that they are operating as intended. An
independent review of home education is part of this continuing commitment
to strengthening the system and to ensure all children achieve the five
Every Child Matters outcomes.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote our reference number in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision,
you should write to me within two calendar months of the date of this
letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO
cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our complaints/review
procedure.
Yours sincerely,

Josephine Bell (Mrs)

Independent Schools Partnerships and Strategy Team
[email address]
[2]www.dcsf.gov.uk

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2009/0030848.

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References

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1. http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/policyand...
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/policyand...
2. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/