Agenda item

The committee received 3 draft scoping reports for consideration to enable them to decide, which topic they wished to undertake as their major review for 2011/12.  Officers gave a brief overview of each scoping report and the committee asked a number of points as follows:-

Elective Home Education in Hillingdon

• The committee asked for consideration to be given to including the following Terms of Reference:-

                                                        i.            To look at the Psychological Development of a home educated child.

                                                      ii.            To look at partnership working and how this worked.

                                                    iii.            To look at how a young persons attainment progress was measured.

                                                     iv.            To look at the transition back to formal education (if and when this transition was made)

Officers agreed that it may be useful to include the issues raised above in the Terms of Reference.

Members asked a number of questions:

• Were the unannounced visits random or was there a reason for them taking place?

Officers advised that unannounced visits were carried out on an ad hoc basis and were not undertaken for a specific reason. 

• Does the authority know the outcomes for home educated children?

Officers advised that the outcomes for home educated children were received by the Local Authority in relation to GCSE level.  There was no information on the milestones that they had met to reach GCSE level.

• Should the title of the review be Elective Home Education in Hillingdon, and did Hillingdon take part in an internet pilot in relation to home schooling.

Officers informed the committee that Elective Home Education was a general term and used nationally.  The internet pilot, which looked at the use of ICT to allow learning at home was used for the following situations.

There was already provision for young people who were out of school long term. This provision was currently  being reviewe as part of the Early intervention review.

• What support and guidance was given to parents who home educated and were there any groups within Hillingdon where parents met to exchange ideas?

Officers reported that there was a range of reasons why parents decided to home education.  Parents were offered assistance and practical support once they had made the decision to home educate and would help them move forward in the right direction.  Officers welcomed the suggestion of a support group being set up as this would help with the concern in regard to intervention and would be an important part of the review.

The committee felt that there needed to be a strong message coming out of the review about access for voluntary or professional organisations for children that were home educated.  It may mean that the committee needed to consider lobbying for a change to the current legislation to ensure that a child was seen by a voluntary of professional organisation.   

Risky Behaviour amongst Young People

Officers introduced the report and informed the committee that there was currently a Business Improvement Delivery (BID) project being undertaken on Early Intervention Services, which was expected to help mitigate some elements of risky behaviour by Young People.

The committee suggested that as there was an ongoing review that would include risky behaviour amongst young people that the Committee should see the final report from BID when it had been completed.  This would enable the committee to look at whether there was a specific area that required further review.

Parental Skills in Education Attainment

Officers introduced the report, giving members a general overview of the background to the issues in regard to funding for the provision of parental support in education attainment.

The role and the function of the Children’s Centres were child focused but  parental skills in education attainment was important supported.  It was felt that the support for this provision would be the responsibility of schools and not that of the Local Authority.

A member raised concerns that there were parents that wanted to help their children’s attainment but often did not understand the methods of learning used in schools.  This caused a barrier for parents.

The committee was informed that a number of schools offered evenings for parents on the curriculum.  This may not be the case in all schools and it was suggested that schools should share good practice with other schools.

Officers advised that the Government was focusing on issues of Parental Skills in education attainment and there were other ways of moving this forward.   The committee was advised that the 5 year attainment figures showed an increase in attainment.  There were also a number of outstanding schools in the borough sharing good practice with other schools.

The committee following discussion agreed to undertake their major review on Elective Home Education.   Members suggested that witnesses should include, expert external witness in regards to safeguarding issues, an overview of national picture, Community Health Visitor, an older child that had been home educated.

Resolved – That Elective Home Education be undertaken as a major review for 2011/2012.