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
32 Recommendations
1 Conclusion
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 5 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
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
6 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
The government outlines existing guidance for exclusions that directs parents to free information services and expects a similar approach for EHE. It also mentions a future duty on local authorities to provide support, but does not specifically address the recommendation for independent advocates.
Department for Education
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8 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
The government did not commit to providing independent advocates for excluded pupils or families considering EHE, instead pointing to existing information and advice services. It deferred further details on broader support for home-educating families to a future consultation response.
Department for Education
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16 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
The government stated that the issues of local authority powers regarding EHE and the 'grey area' in guidance were not within the scope of the Children Not In School consultation and therefore would not be addressed in its response.
Department for Education
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21 Conclusion Not Addressed
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
The government reiterates that Ofsted already assesses local authorities' EHE work during Children’s Social Care inspections, but does not address the conclusion's points about lack of consistency, ambiguous guidance, or Ofsted considering new oversight methods.
Department for Education
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23 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
The government states that Ofsted already assesses local authorities' EHE work as part of Children’s Social Care inspections, but this does not address the recommendation for local authorities to have clear abilities to seek reassurance that EHE is suitable.
Department for Education
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28 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
Government Response
The government stated that while it is committed to a registration system for children not in school, decisions on local authority implementation are yet to be made and may or may not include the recommended national training package for EHE officers.
Department for Education
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Government Response AI assessment · 33 of 32 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 11
Not Addressed 6
Rejected 4
Total 32 recs + 1 conclusion
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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