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Dear J Carter

Freedom of Information Act 2000 / Environmental Information Regulations
2004 – Ref: 2015/1718

Thank you for your correspondence received on 07 March 2018

Your request is being considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (whichever is most
appropriate). You will receive the information requested within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days.

However, please note the Acts define a number of exemptions that may
prevent release of the requested information. There will therefore be an
assessment of your request to determine if any exemptions apply to the
information requested. If the information cannot be released, or only
released in part you will be informed of the reasons why, together with
any rights of appeal.

If the information requested refers to a third party, they may be
consulted before deciding whether it can be released.

Yours sincerely,

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LD

(01642) 527455

[1][email address]

[2]www.stockton.gov.uk

 [3]CSE Logo small

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This email was classified as : OFFICIAL

Dear J Carter

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Ref: 2015/1718

Thank you for your correspondence received on 07 March 2018. In response
to your request I can now provide the following information. 

Q1       Can you please categorise how those known to the team dealing
with elective home education became known? E.g. School, Doctor,
self-referral, concerns about the educational provision reported etc.

Q1      Information not recorded

Q2       Does the local authority seek to satisfy itself that the
educational provision the parent(s) are providing is suitable to the
child's age, aptitude, ability and any SEN as soon as they become aware
that parents are electively home educating, regardless of how they become
known to the local authority?

A2      Yes

Q3       How many instances have there been in the years (from January 1st
to December 31st) 2015, 2016, 2017 and to the date of this FOI where the
person dealing with elective home education has or has had concerns that a
'suitable' education is not being provided?

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 the
particular child is not appearing to be learning 'enough'?

3) whether there are concerns because the family have not implemented a
structured approach?

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

5) a qualified third party is not involved in the child’s education?

6) An educational report has not been provided by a third party such as; a
teacher etc.

A3     EHE information is recorded by academic year.  I have provided
information for 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18

             2015/16                 3       Provision Unsatisfactory

          2016/17                 6       Provision Unsatisfactory

          2017/18                 1       Provision Unsatisfactory

          In all cases concerns related to an adequate provision not being
in place. 

Q4       I would like to know of these children, how many of these
concerns were proven?

A4      Of the 10 pupils where provision was deemed unsatisfactory, 8
returned to school and 2 started alternative provision college placements

Q5       Of the children in the above 4 categories, please indicate if
further steps have or are being taken - for example, referred to CME or
issued with a School Attendance Order. Please break it down into each year
asked for.

A5       N/a – all returned to education

Q6       Please indicate how many of these went to court in 2015, 2016 and
2017.

A6      None. 

Q7       Please also indicate if any Education Supervision Orders are
currently in court for this population?

A7      None.

Q8       Finally, please provide all recorded documentation relating to
elective home education including policies, procedures (2015 - present)
and recorded communications relating to elective home education (2017 -
present), including any e-mail attachments. This does not include
communications between the Elective Home Education team and electively
home educating parents or information that falls under S40 (which I expect
to be redacted).

A8      EHE policy attached.

If you have any queries or concerns please contact me in the first
instance.

However, if you are unhappy with the way your request for information has
been handled, you can submit a complaint to
[1][email address] 

If, after your complaint has been determined, you remain dissatisfied with
the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to
the Information Commissioner at:

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.  Telephone: 0303 123 1113  Website:
[2]www.ico.org.uk

The ICO does not make a charge for an appeal.

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Williams

Information Governance Team

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LD

(01642) 527455

[3][email address]

[4]www.stockton.gov.uk

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