Agenda item

2.05 pm

In December 2017, the Education Scrutiny Committee agreed to undertake a short investigation into the reasons for an increase in elective home education (EHE) across the county. The working group comprised of Councillor Waine and Councillor Smith. This report presents the findings of the investigation.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED that:

A copy of this report and the response at Annex 1 are submitted as a response from the Education Scrutiny Committee to the Department for Education call for evidence.

(a)      Further analysis is undertaken to understand the reasons for higher numbers of EHE at years 5 and 9 through modifications to the EHE parent/carer questionnaire.

(b)      Further analysis is undertaken by officers on a school level and locality basis to understand the trends associated with EHE in locality areas to see if there are links with social deprivation or SEND provision.

(c)      The concept of a 2-week cooling off period before taking pupils off the roll at a school is discussed as part of the attendance conference in July, or at another suitable occasion with head teachers, to gauge level of commitment from schools to understand whether it would be feasible to implement a system across Oxfordshire.

(d)      That the authority advocates that school leaders in include information about numbers of EHE children in their termly reports to governors/directors governors or other reporting mechanism that may exist.

(e)      The Committee receives an update report in twelve months’ time to review the impact of the restructure to the EHE team, how the RAG rating system is working, the outcome of the Committee’s recommendations and the results of the DfE consultation.

(f)        Schools and colleges in the County are contacted and asked if they would be prepared to provide access to private candidates to expand the range of exam centres in the County for EHE pupils.

(g)      A named contact on the MASH is identified as a point of contact for EHE issues and concerns.

(h)      A briefing is organised for representatives on the MASH about EHE and the role of the County Attendance Team in EHE.

(i)        The EHE questionnaire is further modified to give the ability to include a more detailed explanation from parents/carers, if they wish to share more detailed reasons for opting for EHE.

(j)        The Committee would like to receive a report containing further information about the Inclusion Strategy as it develops.

(k)      The New College, Swindon example of good practice is investigated and any information is shared with Further Education establishments in Oxfordshire.

At the Education Scrutiny Committee on 13 December 2017, the Committee received a report about Elective Home Education (EHE) in Oxfordshire. In 2016-17 there were 558 recorded cases of EHE which represented an increase of 21%. 70 children returned to school, compared to 90 in the previous year.

The Committee agreed that Councillor Waine and Councillor Smith would undertake an investigation into the reasons for this rise; trends in EHE including concentrations of EHE in particular localities and schools; and to meet with parents who have decided to EHE. Members considered whether there were any particular trends in relation to year groups, locality or increase over time. The data suggest that there is no particular trend by locality, however there do appear to be higher instances of EHE for SEND pupils. During the course of the investigation, the Department for Education (DfE) published revised EHE guidance for local authorities and parents for consultation and so this has also been considered as part of the investigation.  

To gather information, Councillors Waine and Emily Smith met with lead officers including an EHE Link Workers to understand the role of the EHE team, the national context, the powers and duties of the local authority and to commission further data to inform the investigation. A second meeting was held with the lead County Attendance Officer responsible for EHE to discuss the data and the DfE Call for Evidence.

Finally, the working group had met with two parents/carers who have elected to home educate to find out about their experiences. Both parents/carers had initially sent their children to primary school and had then pursued elective home education. The Committee now had before it a report (ESC8) which set out conclusion for the Committee’s consideration.

In introducing the report Councillor Waine thanked Councillor Emily Smith for support in carrying out this piece of work. Councillor Waine further thanked the families for their time and sharing their experiences of Home Educaion.

During debate, the Committee made the following points:

The EHE website contained out of date information and was not very welcoming/user friendly for parents.

The challenges around Adoption needed to be added to the report.

There was a need to breakdown figures in age gender and ethnicity.  Concern was expressed over the number of single sex schools provided for girls.

There was a need to get better at speaking to parents.

Following debate Councillor Matelot moved and Councillor Gill Sanders seconded that the recommendations set out in the report and on the face of the Agenda be moved.  The motion was put to the vote and was carried nem con.

RESOLVED: (nem con) that:

(1)      A copy of this report and the response at Annex 1 are submitted as a response from the Education Scrutiny Committee to the Department for Education call for evidence.

(a)      Further analysis is undertaken to understand the reasons for higher numbers of EHE at years 5 and 9 through modifications to the EHE parent/carer questionnaire.

(b)      Further analysis is undertaken by officers on a school level and locality basis to understand the trends associated with EHE in locality areas to see if there are links with social deprivation or SEND provision.

(c)       The concept of a 2-week cooling off period before taking pupils off the roll at a school is discussed as part of the attendance conference in July, or at another suitable occasion with head teachers, to gauge level of commitment from schools to understand whether it would be feasible to implement a system across Oxfordshire.

(d)      That the authority advocates that school leaders in include information about numbers of EHE children in their termly reports to governors/directors governors or other reporting mechanism that may exist.

(e)      The Committee receives an update report in twelve months’ time to review the impact of the restructure to the EHE team, how the RAG rating system is working, the outcome of the Committee’s recommendations and the results of the DfE consultation.

(f)        Schools and colleges in the County are contacted and asked if they would be prepared to provide access to private candidates to expand the range of exam centres in the County for EHE pupils.

(g)      A named contact on the MASH is identified as a point of contact for EHE issues and concerns.

(h)      A briefing is organised for representatives on the MASH about EHE and the role of the County Attendance Team in EHE.

(i)        The EHE questionnaire is further modified to give the ability to include a more detailed explanation from parents/carers, if they wish to share more detailed reasons for opting for EHE.

(j)        The Committee would like to receive a report containing further information about the Inclusion Strategy as it develops.

(k)       The New College, Swindon example of good practice is investigated and any information is shared with Further Education establishments in Oxfordshire.

(2)         To ask officers for a report back in six-months tracking progress against the recommendations, together with a breakdown on schools that have a high number of EHE, particularly Primary and whether this is due to choice