Lambeth
A page for information, news and comment in Lambeth
table of contents:
related links:
Meeting the LA Education Department
Guidance on improving LEAs
EHE Consultation
Lambeth Childrens & Young People’s Service
Social Inclusion
4th Floor, International House
Canterbury Crescent
London SW9 7QE
Local authority
1 Do you agree that it is helpful for the DfES to issue guidelines to local authorities?
Yes
2 Do you agree that the description of the law (paragraphs 2.1-2.3) relating to elective home education is accurate and clear?
Yes
Comments:
The description of the law is accurate and clear although if referred to in isolation it does not impressed upon all parents of education provision and is still open to be interpreted by parents to suit their needs. It is difficult for the LA to exercise their right to establishing whether education provision is ‘efficient’ and ‘suitable’ without the legislation to support this. Further information relating to this point is outlined in response to question 3.
3 Do you agree that the description of local authorities’ responsibilities (paragraphs 2.5-2.11) is accurate and helpful?
Not Sure
Comments:
The LA accepts that the description of local authorities’ responsibility is accurate but not extremely helpful. This clearly sets out what the local authority should provide for parents, setting out the legal position, roles and responsibility, of which many local authorities already do. The new duty under the Education and Inspection Act 2006 whereby the LA need to identify CME or in danger of ME is rather contradictory to the point in 2.7. If the LA has no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis this can be used by parents to resist any efforts made by the local authority to establish whether the child is receiving ‘suitable’ and ‘efficient’ education or in some cases whether there are any child protection issues which need to be addressed. Given that recent legislation such as the Children Act 2004 and Every Child Matter and related statutory guidance it would have been more helpful to strengthen to role of the LA in dealing with home education. The range of powers such as School Attendance Orders are helpful, however some of this could be prevented if the role of LA was strengthened through statutory guidance or legislation.
4 Do you agree that the section on contact with the local authority (paragraphs 3.4-3.7) is accurate and helpful?
Not Sure
Comments:
The LA accepts that the information may be accurate however it is our view that this leaves local authorities in a weak position. The suggestion that the LA should take a ‘risk-based approach is based on information openly available to us. However, it may be that in some cases this information is not readily available and could only be gathered through making enquiries which might include meeting with the child and the parent, which can be refused by parent according to the law and guidance.
Whilst accepting that this may only be in a limited number of cases, it does cause the LA real concern in relation to safeguarding children and ensuring that education provision is line with the guidance. It would be more helpful if the LA role was strengthened through statutory guidance as stated above.
5 Do you agree that the section on providing a full-time education (paragraphs 3.11-3.14) – and in particular, the characteristics of provision (paragraph 3.13) – is accurate and helpful?
Yes
6 Do you agree that the section on developing relationships (section 4) is useful?
Yes
7 a) Are the suggested resources in section 5 and appendix 2 useful?
Yes
7 b) Should any other contacts be included?
No
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