The Home Education Bill by Lord Soley

The request was partially successful.

Dear Sheffield City Council,

In the second reading of the Home Education bill in the House of Lords.
https://goo.gl/kBXzgJ

Lord Soley stated:

"I have had help from across the board, but two of the councils that have been most helpful to me on this are Hampshire and Kent. They have given me information that I hope that the Government will see in due course."

Please provide a copy of all communications and/or documentation (if any) specific to the Home Education bill from or to your local authority between 2016 - 2017. This includes, but is not limited to; Lord Soley, the House of Lords, other local authorities and MPs.

Please redact any identifiable information under S40.

Yours faithfully,

A Thurstan

FOI, Sheffield City Council

Re – Freedom of Information Request – Reference – FOI / 1542
 
Dear A Thurstan,
 
Thank you for your recent request for information relating to Home
Education Bill which we received on 05/01/18.
 
This has been logged as a Freedom of Information Request, and will be
dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act.  The reference number for
your request can be found above.
 
The Freedom of Information Act states that we must respond to you within
20 working days, therefore, you should expect to hear a response from us
by 02/02/18.
 
In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact us on the number
below.
 
Thank you.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Resources Business Support
Moorfoot Level 2 North Wing
Sheffield S1 4PL
Tel : 0114 20 53478
E-mail : [1][Sheffield City Council request email]
P Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
 
 
_____________________________________________
From: A Thurstan [[2]mailto:[FOI #455217 email]]
Sent: 05 January 2018 15:16
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - The Home Education Bill by Lord
Soley
 
Dear Sheffield City Council,
 
In the second reading of the Home Education bill in the House of Lords.
[3]https://goo.gl/kBXzgJ
 
Lord Soley stated:
 
"I have had help from across the board, but two of the councils that have
been most helpful to me on this are Hampshire and Kent. They have given me
information that I hope that the Government will see in due course."
 
Please provide a copy of all communications and/or documentation (if any)
specific to the Home Education bill from or to your local authority
between 2016 - 2017. This includes, but is not limited to; Lord Soley, the
House of Lords, other local authorities and MPs.
 
Please redact any identifiable information under S40.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
A Thurstan
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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[4][FOI #455217 email]
 
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Fiona Nicholson left an annotation ()

Some supplementary information can be found here https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2018/01...

FOI, Sheffield City Council

Re – Freedom of Information Request – Reference – FOI / 1542
 
Dear A Thurstan,
 
Thank you for your recent request for information relating to Home
Education Bill which we received on 05/01/18.
 
Please find below, Sheffield City Council’s response to your request:
 
 
There were no communications or documentation specific to the Home
Education Bill from or to the Local Authority between 2016-17.
 
 
If you have any queries about this response, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
 
If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your
request, you are entitled to have this reviewed.  You can ask for an
internal review by either writing to the above address or by emailing
[1][Sheffield City Council request email].
 
If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of your internal review, you
can contact the Information Commissioners Office. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, telephone 0303 123
1113, or for further details see their website [2]www.ico.org.uk
 
Kind Regards,
 
Resources Business Support
Moorfoot Level 2 North Wing
Sheffield S1 4PL
Tel : 0114 20 53478
E-mail : [3][Sheffield City Council request email]
P Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
 
 
_____________________________________________

show quoted sections

Dear FOI,

Could you please check again?

In a response to an FOI to Lancashire, Sheffield are clearly listed (among other local authorities) in an 04/10/2017 email regarding the bill, sent by Annette Bailey in Hants. (Email sent to; Venetta.Buchanan @sheffield.gov .uk (Separated for the purposes of the FOI)

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/4...

Can you please confirm that you have no records of any correspondence (written or verbal) regarding this bill? If you haven't can you please tell me why there are no records?

Yours sincerely,
A Thurstan

Dear FOI,

Sheffield City Council has been linked in another FOI concerning the Home Education Bill.

Can you please clarify why this have not been included in your FOI response?

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours sincerely,

A Thurstan

Dear FOI,

Please confirm when I will receive a response to my follow up questions.

Yours sincerely,

A Thurstan

FOI, Sheffield City Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Thurstan,

Further to your queries attached I have reviewed your concerns as a request for internal review as it shows a degree of dissatisfaction with the response provided by the Council.

As part of this review I have considered the links and documentation you have sourced in your complaint and the position on any related records if held. I have also been in communication with Ms Buchanan in regard to the status of any associated communications. It has been confirmed by Ms Buchanan that she does not retain a copy of the email available from the link: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h.... Furthermore we do note that the communications to which your requests appear to relate and the copies which have been provided by other Authorities which would not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 from Sheffield City Council. The communications are related to Ms Buchanan's personal membership of AEHEP and is not related to Sheffield City Council business. As a result were any records retained they would not be accessible as AEHEP is not a public authority as listed under the Act. Although Sheffield may at times hold information in this regard on its systems it doesn’t "hold" this in terms of the Act. Under the Freedom of Information Act holding only on someone’s else’s behalf means we do not hold it under the terms of the Act.

As a result the Council continues to assert that we do not hold information relevant to your request and therefore there is consequently no information relevant for disclosure.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your internal review, you are entitled to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office and they will consider whether your complaint is eligible for further review. The Information Commissioner’s details and guidance is available on the website at www.ico.org.uk.

Kind regards

Mark

Mark Knight
Information Management Officer
Business Change and Information Solutions (BCIS)
Resources Portfolio, Sheffield City Council
Email: [email address]
Postal Address: Sheffield City Council, PO Box 1283, Sheffield S1 1UJ

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Fiona Nicholson left an annotation ()

I'm in Sheffield. This is disappointing. I will relay it to the local community.

Dear FOI,

Can you please clarify the following points;

1) Did Mrs Buchanan have permission from the family in question to share their personal details in a "Private Forum"?

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/4...

"From: Buchanan Venetta [Venetta.Buchanan @ sheffield.gov.uk]

Sent: 22 June 2017 11:41
To: Temple, Barbara; Collins, L; Boswell, Marie; 'keith.nicholson @ nelincs.gov.uk'; 'melanie.johnson @ hullcc.gov.uk'; 'joyce.collier @ hullcc.gov.uk'; '[email address]'; 'charlene.wright @ eastriding.gov.uk'; Bhakta, Trishla; Nevill, Angela; 'wendy.holmes @ northlincs.gov.uk'; 'isabel.turkington @ northlincs.gov.uk'; 'dianerichardson2 @ barnsley.gov.uk'; 'Dias,Orlinda (Childrens Services)'; 'susantaylor @ wakefield.gov.uk'; 'lkerton @ wakefield.gov.uk'; 'gstuart @ wakefield.gov.uk'; 'alastair.megahy @ kirklees.gov.uk'; 'maggie.featherstone @ kirklees.gov.uk'; 'duncan.thorpe @ calderdale.gov.uk'; 'susan.read @ calderdale.gov.uk'; 'katie.stewart @ calderdale.gov.uk'; 'denise.mayhew @ btinternet.com'; electiveheducation @ bradford.gov.uk; Graham Batty; Lowery, Fiona

Cc: Davis, J; Harben , Keren

Subject: EHE survey results

Hi all, Please find attached the updated results from the recent survey we did. I’ve also attached a copy of the DFE letter we looked at regarding the suitability of provision. I’ll send the pdf’s of the work submitted by the family for context. I’ll do them in two emails as they are quite large. The material mum sent was supposed to cover a period from Jan – Nov 2015. I did a visit in October 2015 and saw some work but didn’t think the provision was full time. Prior to this meeting mum stated that she had all his work and was supposed to have it ready for the meeting. I saw her again in November 15 and was presented with work seen at the previous visit and no real work that had taken place between October to November, let alone Jan-Nov. She disagreed and went to the DFE. I stated that the evidence was neither full time or suitable to his needs and after around 4 months they came back with their decision. Alongside this work mum sent in weekly timetables and educational philosophy’s regularly. The DFE saw all work, timetable’s, plans, etc. I think this shows we can expect more than we probably think we can……

All the best
Venetta
Venetta Buchanan
Advisory Teacher
Elective Home Education
Level 5 North Wing
Moorfoot
Sheffield
S1 4PL
Tel: 0114 2037141"

2. Given Mrs Buchanan's private membership is reliant on her position as an Elective Home Education employee for Sheffield City Council local authority and she uses her local authority email address in order to communicate with other local authority's in this lobbying group, it cannot be said that she is not representing Sheffield City Council in those meetings as a Council employee.

So with that in mind;

Do Mrs Buchanan's views match those of Sheffield City Council or are her views her own?

3. Do the meetings take place in work hours?

4. Do the meetings take place in local authority buildings?

Yours sincerely,

A Thurstan

FOI, Sheffield City Council

Re – Freedom of Information Request – Reference – FOI / 1778
 
Dear A Thurstan,
 
Thank you for your recent request for information relating to Council
officer work with AEHEP which we received on 12/02/18.
 
This has been logged as a Freedom of Information Request, and will be
dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act.  The reference number for
your request can be found above.
 
The Freedom of Information Act states that we must respond to you within
20 working days, therefore, you should expect to hear a response from us
by 12/03/18.
 
In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact us on the number
below.
 
Thank you.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Resources Business Support
Moorfoot Level 2 North Wing
Sheffield S1 4PL
Tel : 0114 20 53478
E-mail : [1][Sheffield City Council request email]
P Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
 
_____________________________________________
From: A Thurstan [[2]mailto:[FOI #455217 email]]
Sent: 10 February 2018 19:32
To: FOI
Subject: Re: FOI internal review response 1542
 
Dear FOI,
 
Can you please clarify the following points;
 
1) Did Mrs Buchanan have permission from the family in question to share
their personal details in a "Private Forum"?
 
[3]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/4...
 
"From: Buchanan Venetta [Venetta.Buchanan @ sheffield.gov.uk]
 
Sent: 22 June 2017 11:41
To: Temple, Barbara; Collins, L; Boswell, Marie; 'keith.nicholson @
nelincs.gov.uk'; 'melanie.johnson @ hullcc.gov.uk'; 'joyce.collier @
hullcc.gov.uk'; '[email address]'; 'charlene.wright @
eastriding.gov.uk'; Bhakta, Trishla; Nevill, Angela; 'wendy.holmes @
northlincs.gov.uk'; 'isabel.turkington @ northlincs.gov.uk';
'dianerichardson2 @ barnsley.gov.uk'; 'Dias,Orlinda (Childrens Services)';
'susantaylor @ wakefield.gov.uk'; 'lkerton @ wakefield.gov.uk'; 'gstuart @
wakefield.gov.uk'; 'alastair.megahy @ kirklees.gov.uk';
'maggie.featherstone @ kirklees.gov.uk'; 'duncan.thorpe @
calderdale.gov.uk'; 'susan.read @ calderdale.gov.uk'; 'katie.stewart @
calderdale.gov.uk'; 'denise.mayhew @ btinternet.com'; electiveheducation @
bradford.gov.uk; Graham Batty; Lowery, Fiona
 
Cc: Davis, J; Harben , Keren
 
Subject: EHE survey results
 
Hi all, Please find attached the updated results from the recent survey we
did. I’ve also attached a copy of the DFE letter we looked at regarding
the suitability of provision. I’ll send the pdf’s of the work submitted by
the family for context. I’ll do them in two emails as they are quite
large. The material mum sent was supposed to cover a period from Jan – Nov
2015. I did a visit in October 2015 and saw some work but didn’t think the
provision was full time. Prior to this meeting mum stated that she had all
his work and was supposed to have it ready for the meeting. I saw her
again in November 15 and was presented with work seen at the previous
visit and no real work that had taken place between October to November,
let alone Jan-Nov. She disagreed and went to the DFE. I stated that the
evidence was neither full time or suitable to his needs and after around 4
months they came back with their decision. Alongside this work mum sent in
weekly timetables and educational philosophy’s regularly. The DFE saw all
work, timetable’s, plans, etc. I think this shows we can expect more than
we probably think we can……
 
All the best
Venetta
Venetta Buchanan
Advisory Teacher
Elective Home Education
Level 5 North Wing
Moorfoot
Sheffield
S1 4PL
Tel: 0114 2037141"
 
2. Given Mrs Buchanan's private membership is reliant on her position as
an Elective Home Education employee for Sheffield City Council local
authority and she uses her local authority email address in order to
communicate with other local authority's in this lobbying group, it cannot
be said that she is not representing Sheffield City Council in those
meetings as a Council employee.
 
So with that in mind;
 
Do Mrs Buchanan's views match those of Sheffield City Council or are her
views her own?
 
3. Do the meetings take place in work hours?
 
4. Do the meetings take place in local authority buildings?
 
Yours sincerely,
 
A Thurstan
 

show quoted sections

FOI, Sheffield City Council

Re – Freedom of Information Request – Reference – FOI / 1778
 
Dear A Thurstan,
 
Thank you for your recent request for information relating to Council
officer work with AEHEP which we received on 12/02/18.
 
Please find below, Sheffield City Council’s response to your request:
 
It is common practice amongst the EHE Lead Teacher community to share
details of individual cases in order to achieve consistency of approach. 
It is in fact common in many areas of education and Local Government for
Officer groups to share information.  Confidentiality is however respected
at all times and there is never any reference made to individual children
or families, nothing that can identify an individual. 
 
Parents who choose to home-educate their children are responsible for
ensuring that the education provided is efficient, full-time and suitable
to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any SEN they may have. They are
not required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and do not have to
follow the National Curriculum. 
 
Whilst Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to
monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis, they do
however, under the Education Act 1996 have duties to intervene if it is
considered that a child is not receiving a suitable education.  As Lead
Teacher, Ms Buchanan is required by the Local Authority to form a
professional opinion with regard to the suitability of education that a
child is receiving.  This opinion is carried out on behalf of the Local
Authority.  It will of course be subjective by definition but any opinion
is formed through existing good practice both in Sheffield and nationally.
 
Meetings between EHE Leads are held during work hours and normally but not
always in Council buildings.
 
If you have any queries about this response, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
 
If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your
request, you are entitled to have this reviewed.  You can ask for an
internal review by either writing to the above address or by emailing
[1][Sheffield City Council request email].
 
If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of your internal review, you
can contact the Information Commissioners Office. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, telephone 0303 123
1113, or for further details see their website [2]www.ico.org.uk
 
Kind Regards,
 
Resources Business Support
Moorfoot Level 2 North Wing
Sheffield S1 4PL
Tel : 0114 2734427
E-mail : [3][Sheffield City Council request email]
P Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
 
 
_____________________________________________
From: A Thurstan [[4]mailto:[FOI #455217 email]]
Sent: 10 February 2018 19:32
To: FOI
Subject: Re: FOI internal review response 1542
 
Dear FOI,
 
Can you please clarify the following points;
 
1) Did Mrs Buchanan have permission from the family in question to share
their personal details in a "Private Forum"?
 
[5]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/4...
 
"From: Buchanan Venetta [Venetta.Buchanan @ sheffield.gov.uk]
 
Sent: 22 June 2017 11:41
To: Temple, Barbara; Collins, L; Boswell, Marie; 'keith.nicholson @
nelincs.gov.uk'; 'melanie.johnson @ hullcc.gov.uk'; 'joyce.collier @
hullcc.gov.uk'; '[email address]'; 'charlene.wright @
eastriding.gov.uk'; Bhakta, Trishla; Nevill, Angela; 'wendy.holmes @
northlincs.gov.uk'; 'isabel.turkington @ northlincs.gov.uk';
'dianerichardson2 @ barnsley.gov.uk'; 'Dias,Orlinda (Childrens Services)';
'susantaylor @ wakefield.gov.uk'; 'lkerton @ wakefield.gov.uk'; 'gstuart @
wakefield.gov.uk'; 'alastair.megahy @ kirklees.gov.uk';
'maggie.featherstone @ kirklees.gov.uk'; 'duncan.thorpe @
calderdale.gov.uk'; 'susan.read @ calderdale.gov.uk'; 'katie.stewart @
calderdale.gov.uk'; 'denise.mayhew @ btinternet.com'; electiveheducation @
bradford.gov.uk; Graham Batty; Lowery, Fiona
 
Cc: Davis, J; Harben , Keren
 
Subject: EHE survey results
 
Hi all, Please find attached the updated results from the recent survey we
did. I’ve also attached a copy of the DFE letter we looked at regarding
the suitability of provision. I’ll send the pdf’s of the work submitted by
the family for context. I’ll do them in two emails as they are quite
large. The material mum sent was supposed to cover a period from Jan – Nov
2015. I did a visit in October 2015 and saw some work but didn’t think the
provision was full time. Prior to this meeting mum stated that she had all
his work and was supposed to have it ready for the meeting. I saw her
again in November 15 and was presented with work seen at the previous
visit and no real work that had taken place between October to November,
let alone Jan-Nov. She disagreed and went to the DFE. I stated that the
evidence was neither full time or suitable to his needs and after around 4
months they came back with their decision. Alongside this work mum sent in
weekly timetables and educational philosophy’s regularly. The DFE saw all
work, timetable’s, plans, etc. I think this shows we can expect more than
we probably think we can……
 
All the best
Venetta
Venetta Buchanan
Advisory Teacher
Elective Home Education
Level 5 North Wing
Moorfoot
Sheffield
S1 4PL
Tel: 0114 2037141"
 
2. Given Mrs Buchanan's private membership is reliant on her position as
an Elective Home Education employee for Sheffield City Council local
authority and she uses her local authority email address in order to
communicate with other local authority's in this lobbying group, it cannot
be said that she is not representing Sheffield City Council in those
meetings as a Council employee.
 
So with that in mind;
 
Do Mrs Buchanan's views match those of Sheffield City Council or are her
views her own?
 
3. Do the meetings take place in work hours?
 
4. Do the meetings take place in local authority buildings?
 
Yours sincerely,
 
A Thurstan
 

show quoted sections