Home Education

Education Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 30 Sep 2020 Closed: 12 Jan 2022 Parliament page
The inquiry will seek to understand the extent to which current arrangements provide sufficient support for home educated children to access efficient, full-time and suitable education, and establish what further measures may be necessary in order to facilitate this. It will also explore the impact of COVID-19 on home education, … Read more
4 Recommendations
29 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 6 events
26 Oct
2021
Report published
26 Jul
2021
Report published
23 Mar
2021
Formal meeting · Virtual Meeting
4 Dec
2020
Correspondence
24 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
24 Nov
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual Meeting
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
24 Nov 2020
View on parliament.uk
Home schooling
Cllr Lucy Nethsingha · Local Government Association Jane Lowe · Home Education Advisory Service Jenny Coles · Association of Directors of Children's Services Mrunal Sisodia · National Network of Parent Carer Forums
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Strengthening Home Education HC 84 26 Jul 2021 33 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
33 results
1 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Committee unanimously supports the right of families to opt for EHE, provided it is...
The Committee unanimously supports the right of families to opt for EHE, provided it is in the best interests of the child and the education provided is of a suitable standard to meet the needs of the child. In the … Read more
Government Response
38. The Government agrees with the support from the Committee for the right of parents to opt for EHE, provided it is in the best interests of the child and … Read more
Department for Education
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2 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The next iteration of the Government’s guidance for local authorities and parents must set out...
The next iteration of the Government’s guidance for local authorities and parents must set out a clearer vision for a ‘suitable’ education - including the levels of numeracy and literacy which it would usually expect students to have achieved before … Read more
Government Response
6. Relevant case law1 and the ECHR2 gives broad discretion on the state in how the fundamental right to an effective education is implemented. For instance, a local authority may … Read more
Department for Education
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3 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Committee heard from home educators that home-educated children are not ‘invisible’, and that safeguarding...
The Committee heard from home educators that home-educated children are not ‘invisible’, and that safeguarding has failed children who were already known to local authorities. However, the relevant authorities cannot begin to reach any children who may be at risk … Read more
Government Response
9. The Government remains committed to a form of local authority administered statutory registration to identify children not in school. This would likely encompass children who are electively home educated … Read more
Department for Education
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4 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Committee’s view remains that a statutory register, serving to more consistently identify children outside...
The Committee’s view remains that a statutory register, serving to more consistently identify children outside of school, is absolutely necessary. This would aim not to remove freedoms from those who are providing an effective education for their families, but to … Read more
Government Response
9. The Government remains committed to a form of local authority administered statutory registration to identify children not in school. This would likely encompass children who are electively home educated … Read more
Department for Education
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5 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
There is no single definitive figure for the number of children and young people being...
There is no single definitive figure for the number of children and young people being educated at home. The numbers that are available are likely to under-report as parents do not have a duty to tell local authorities that they … Read more
Government Response
10. The Government is committed to a form of registration for children not in school, but further details are yet to be decided, including how and what data would be … Read more
Department for Education
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6 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Covid-19 appears to have driven a further rise in EHE numbers, the long-term impact of...
Covid-19 appears to have driven a further rise in EHE numbers, the long-term impact of which is not yet known. During the covid-19 pandemic, some may have found that educating at home worked better for them. However, some parents may … Read more
Government Response
12. Within the statutory suspensions and permanent exclusions guidance, we clearly state that the head teacher should draw parents’ attention to relevant sources of free and impartial information. This information … Read more
Department for Education
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7 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Once the statutory register of children outside of school is up and running, the Department...
Once the statutory register of children outside of school is up and running, the Department for Education must make use of it to collate, analyse and publish anonymised annual data on the number of children out of school so that … Read more
Government Response
The Government is committed to a form of registration for children not in school, but further details are yet to be decided, including how and what data would be collected. … Read more
Department for Education
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8 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
When a pupil is excluded from school for more than five non-consecutive days in a...
When a pupil is excluded from school for more than five non-consecutive days in a school year, the pupil and their parents or carers should be given access to an independent advocate to help them navigate the process. Families considering … Read more
Government Response
Within the statutory suspensions and permanent exclusions guidance, we clearly state that the head teacher should draw parents’ attention to relevant sources of free and impartial information. This information should … Read more
Department for Education
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9 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
There is clearly a distinction between those families who make a free choice to EHE,...
There is clearly a distinction between those families who make a free choice to EHE, and those for whom it is not truly ‘elective.’ We understand that many home educators do not see off-rolling, exclusion or illegal schools as a … Read more
Government Response
9. The Department remains committed to a form of local authority administered statutory registration to identify children not in school. This would likely encompass children who are electively home educated … Read more
Department for Education
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10 Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Schools should publish their permanent and fixed term exclusion rates by year group every term,...
Schools should publish their permanent and fixed term exclusion rates by year group every term, including providing information about pupils with SEND and looked- after children. Schools should also publish data on the number of pupils who have left the … Read more
Department for Education
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11 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Some children in those illegal schools prosecuted so far have been nominally home educated, with...
Some children in those illegal schools prosecuted so far have been nominally home educated, with families misled by providers. Without the consistent and robust data on children outside school that a register could provide, we cannot know the true impact … Read more
Government Response
9. The Government remains committed to a form of local authority administered statutory registration to identify children not in school. This would likely encompass children who are electively home educated … Read more
Department for Education
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12 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Many children with SEND may be happiest educated at home, but this should absolutely not...
Many children with SEND may be happiest educated at home, but this should absolutely not be a choice that parents are forced to make for lack of the right support. We accept that what begins as a negative choice can … Read more
Government Response
20. The SEND system already provides mechanisms for ensuring that families have access to support. Local authorities are bound by statute (by section 19 of the Children and Families Act … Read more
Department for Education
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13 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
In light of the evidence we heard on children with SEND, the Department must reconsider...
In light of the evidence we heard on children with SEND, the Department must reconsider the potential for creating an independent, neutral role, allocated to every parent or carer with a child when a request is made for a needs … Read more
Government Response
20. The SEND system already provides mechanisms for ensuring that families have access to support. Local authorities are bound by statute (by section 19 of the Children and Families Act … Read more
Department for Education
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14 Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
We urge the Government to publish its SEND Review without further delay, and will look...
We urge the Government to publish its SEND Review without further delay, and will look forward to scrutinising any proposals it makes.
Department for Education
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15 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The SEND Review must address the need for consistent and sufficient support for children with...
The SEND Review must address the need for consistent and sufficient support for children with SEND, no matter how they are educated. Access to Education, Health and Care Plans and the support they offer should not depend on being on … Read more
Government Response
21. The SEND Review is looking at ways to ensure the SEND system is consistent, high quality and integrated across education, health and care to improve early support for children … Read more
Department for Education
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16 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Local authorities told us that they lack sufficient powers.
Local authorities told us that they lack sufficient powers. It seems to us that the grey area in the Departmental guidance—where there is no legal duty for parents to respond to enquiries about EHE, but the local authority is entitled … Read more
Government Response
22. EHE expectations on local authorities, other parts of the sector and parents was not part of the scope of the Children Not In School consultation and as such would … Read more
Department for Education
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17 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Without a clearer definition of what a ‘suitable’ education is and what the threshold might...
Without a clearer definition of what a ‘suitable’ education is and what the threshold might be for intervention, local authorities have to rely on their safeguarding powers. We understand that, where powers are seen to be used inappropriately, there is … Read more
Government Response
22. EHE expectations on local authorities, other parts of the sector and parents was not part of the scope of the Children Not In School consultation and as such would … Read more
Department for Education
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18 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
When the Department responds to the 2019 consultation, it must clearly set out the expectations...
When the Department responds to the 2019 consultation, it must clearly set out the expectations on LAs, other parts of the public sector (including health and social care) and parents with regards to EHE. It should supply case study examples … Read more
Government Response
22. EHE expectations on local authorities, other parts of the sector and parents was not part of the scope of the Children Not In School consultation and as such would … Read more
Department for Education
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19 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Although we were pleased to see that Keeping Children Safe in Education was updated during...
Although we were pleased to see that Keeping Children Safe in Education was updated during the inquiry, we heard that key guidance documents on safeguarding did not recognise EHE. It is therefore hardly surprising that that local authorities and others … Read more
Government Response
25. The Department continues to review all key statutory guidance regularly. We will consider including EHE in Working Together to Safeguard Children at the next review point.
Department for Education
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20 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Department must revisit and revise key statutory guidance such as Working Together to Safeguard...
The Department must revisit and revise key statutory guidance such as Working Together to Safeguard Children as soon as possible, so that they explicitly contain EHE within their scope, and contain clear and consistent messages for families, local authorities and … Read more
Government Response
25. The Department continues to review all key statutory guidance regularly. We will consider including EHE in Working Together to Safeguard Children at the next review point.
Department for Education
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21 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
We heard that there is a lack of consistency in the approach local authorities take...
We heard that there is a lack of consistency in the approach local authorities take to support EHE. Departmental guidance is ambiguous and does not provide the necessary clarity on what is expected of them. Ofsted told us that for … Read more
Government Response
26. Ofsted already assess a local authority’s EHE work as part of normal inspections of Children’s Social Care services. Specifically, an inspection would request the following information: The information the … Read more
Department for Education
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22 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Department must assign Ofsted a role in quality assuring the delivery of local authority...
The Department must assign Ofsted a role in quality assuring the delivery of local authority support for EHE and adherence to EHE guidance. This will require the creation of an inspection framework, based on the clarified guidance for local authorities … Read more
Government Response
26. Ofsted already assess a local authority’s EHE work as part of normal inspections of Children’s Social Care services. Specifically, an inspection would request the following information: The information the … Read more
Department for Education
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23 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
On the whole, local authorities did not see themselves as potential ‘inspectors’ in the Ofsted...
On the whole, local authorities did not see themselves as potential ‘inspectors’ in the Ofsted mould—even though the former Children’s Commissioner called for “at least a once a year, if not once a term” inspection. However, some local authorities would … Read more
Government Response
26. Ofsted already assess a local authority’s EHE work as part of normal inspections of Children’s Social Care services. Specifically, an inspection would request the following information: The information the … Read more
Department for Education
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24 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
HMCI Amanda Spielman told us it was “very un-joined up” that children who were on...
HMCI Amanda Spielman told us it was “very un-joined up” that children who were on a child protection plan and experiencing harm could be withdrawn into home education. We share HMCI’s concerns and call on the Department to ensure that … Read more
Government Response
25. The Department continues to review all key statutory guidance regularly. We will consider including EHE in Working Together to Safeguard Children at the next review point.
Department for Education
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25 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Department must clarify and strengthen the expectation in its 2019 guidance that local authorities...
The Department must clarify and strengthen the expectation in its 2019 guidance that local authorities make contact with parents on at least an annual basis, so that local authorities have the ability to see a child in person (at a … Read more
Government Response
28. The Department will review its 2019 EHE guidance for local authorities and parents in due course, taking account of relevant developments that result from the impending judicial review between … Read more
Department for Education
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26 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Department should provide local authorities with a set of clear criteria against which suitability...
The Department should provide local authorities with a set of clear criteria against which suitability of education can be assessed, taking into account the full range of pedagogical approaches taken in EHE, as well as the age, ability and aptitude … Read more
Government Response
30. Paragraph 9.4 of the Department’s EHE guidance for local authorities already details eight factors for local authorities to consider when determining whether education is ‘suitable’. Components as to how … Read more
Department for Education
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27 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
We heard that parents receive more support from networks than they do from local authorities,...
We heard that parents receive more support from networks than they do from local authorities, but without the robust data that a register would provide we cannot know for certain whether everyone who needs support is able to access it. … Read more
Government Response
31. As stated, the Department is committed to a system of registration for children not in school. Further details on its operation are yet to be decided but decisions will … Read more
Department for Education
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28 Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Given the rise in EHE numbers and lack of consistent support from local authorities, the...
Given the rise in EHE numbers and lack of consistent support from local authorities, the Department should commission and roll out a national training package for all local authority officers with responsibility for EHE—developed with a wide range of stakeholders—so … Read more
Department for Education
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29 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
Without large-scale, objective data, our understanding of the attainment and outcomes achieved by EHE children...
Without large-scale, objective data, our understanding of the attainment and outcomes achieved by EHE children remains largely anecdotal. Despite assurances from the EHE community, we therefore cannot be sure that all EHE children get an education ‘suitable’ to prepare them … Read more
Government Response
32. The Department is committed to helping children and young people achieve the best outcomes in life, so they can realise their potential. While we can see the value of … Read more
Department for Education
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30 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Department must urgently commission and publish longitudinal research examining the life chances and social...
The Department must urgently commission and publish longitudinal research examining the life chances and social outcomes of EHE children in England (as a short-, medium- or long-term intervention), compared with those who have received a formal schooled education. This will … Read more
Government Response
32. The Department is committed to helping children and young people achieve the best outcomes in life, so they can realise their potential. While we can see the value of … Read more
Department for Education
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31 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Government needs to act on the longstanding issue of inequitable access to exams for...
The Government needs to act on the longstanding issue of inequitable access to exams for those children receiving EHE. The cancellation of exams in 2020 has had a massive impact on all students, but a particularly acute impact on those … Read more
Government Response
34. Many schools, colleges and other examination centres accept private candidates for examinations. The decision to accept private candidates is a matter for the individual centres to decide in light … Read more
Department for Education
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32 Conclusion
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
For that reason, we repeat our predecessor Committee’s recommendations with regards to public examinations.
For that reason, we repeat our predecessor Committee’s recommendations with regards to public examinations. This seems reasonable in order to help EHE children gain the qualifications needed for future education, training and employment.
Government Response
34. Many schools, colleges and other examination centres accept private candidates for examinations. The decision to accept private candidates is a matter for the individual centres to decide in light … Read more
Department for Education
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33 Recommendation
Third Report - Strengthening Home …
The Government must place a duty on every local authority to ensure that home- educated...
The Government must place a duty on every local authority to ensure that home- educated children and young people have fair access to centres where they can sit accredited public examinations, with the Government meeting the entry costs for those … Read more
Department for Education
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Correspondence 1 letter
4 Dec 2020 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Education regarding Home Education, 3 December 2020
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