Agenda item

The Panel will consider a progress update on the Ad Hoc Scrutiny Panel’s Action Plan recommendations for Elective Home Education.

Contact: Diane Yates, Acting Portfolio Manager (Education Safeguarding Service)

The Panel received an update on the New Elective Home Education (EHE) Policy presented by Diane Yates, Acting Portfolio Manager (Education Safeguarding Service, Learning and Early Support).  Following findings from the Ad Hoc Scrutiny review in March 2020, the Children’s Scrutiny Panel had made several recommendations including the need for a new Kirklees EHE Policy as below:-

1.         A new Kirklees Policy on EHE be produced, in consultation with home educators, at the earliest possible opportunity - The Panel was informed that the new EHE policy had been approved by Cabinet on 5^th October and had now been adopted.

2.         Consider the implementation of a dedicated EHE Team, including a qualified teacher, with dedicated budget provision sufficient to implement the policy effectively and consistently - The Panel was informed that an EHE Team was a long-term plan as part of the overall Service Plan, in the interim there was a dedicated EHE Team which helped build positive relationships with carers/parents.  Diane Yates explained that a qualified teacher had been considered and it was felt that there were few occasions when a qualified teacher was required, this could be managed on an Ad hoc basis by tapping into resources as and when required.

3.         Provide a dedicated telephone number and email address – the Panel was informed that a dedicated email address was now in place which had been beneficial in streamlining communication and improving accessibility to the EHE Team. An automated telephone system was currently being explored which would enable the caller to link directly to the EHE Team.

4.         Implement a new form for schools to complete when taking a child off roll, for submission to the EHE Team within a short timescale – Diane Yates advised the Panel that new ways of working had been introduced, this included telephone contact directly with schools upon receipt of all new EHE notifications, which helped identify families who required additional support and enabled the team to provide advice and support to schools on the correct procedures they were required to follow.

5.         Update and improve the relevant section of the Council’s website – the Panel was informed that work on the website was taking place and would cover all the Panel’s recommendations.  The website was due to go live by the end of 2021.

6.         That the possibility for the provision of at least one centre where home educated students could sit exams be explored, preferably one for North Kirklees and one for South Kirklees – the Panel was informed that two independent provisions were now offering exam facilities to private candidates in North Kirklees, one specifically for female students and were continuing to explore other options in South Kirklees.

7.         That the options for alternative provisions particularly in respect of the Key Stage 4 cohort be investigated – Diane Yates explained that the team had worked in partnership with Kirklees College to look at early access to college opportunities and a pilot started in September 2021 for a small number of children who were home educated to access 14-16 provision in South Kirklees.  The plan was to evaluate the pilot at the end of the academic year and be able to offer a programme to more children who were home educated in North and South Kirklees. 

The panel received data which showed EHE figures for the last 5 years.  It was noted that there was a steady increase year on year with the increase in 2021 due mainly to Covid19. In November 2021 there were 489 children Elective Home Educating which was 0.7% of the school population within Kirklees.

In response to a question around reasons why families chose to electively

Home educate, Diane Yates advised that it was mainly due to lifestyle

choices, for example where a child suffered with anxiety, electively home

educating reduced anxieties as a result of not attending school as it was felt

that it was in the child’s best interest not to be in a school environment.

The Panel asked about National and Local conversations on children’s Mental Health, and if views from parents could be fed into school and mental health system to mitigate Mental Health within the school provision and if there were any forums where information could be fed into.  Tom Brailsford, Service Director, Resources, Improvements and Partnership advised that there was a forum to feed back to schools were the EHE Team could link in with.

RESOLVED:

·         That the Panel noted the update on EHE and thanked Diane Yates and the team for the good work on the improvements that had been made and for the update provided to the Panel.

·         That Children’s Mental Health in schools be picked up within the work programme for 2021/22.