Social Inclusion Service Manager, Principal Educational Psychologist, Medway Local Authority, Civic centre, Strood, Kent, ME24AU
Medway LA
Yes
No
No
No
No
Respondent Information Questions
Which of the following best describes you:
Local authority
Consultation Questions
1 Do you agree that it is helpful for the DfES to issue guidelines to local authorities?
Yes
Answer/Comments
Currently the situation is too open to personal interpretation and it is difficult in some instances to ensure that a child receives and appropriate education
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
Answer/Comments
But I think that the law is still too subjective and it would have been helpful to have a clearer definition.
3 Do you agree that the description of local authorities’ responsibilities (paragraphs 2.5-2.11) is accurate and helpful?
Not Sure
Answer/Comments
It would have been more helpful if ther ewas a right to monitor the provision.
4 Do you agree that the section on contact with the local authority (paragraphs 3.4-3.7) is accurate and helpful?
Yes
Answer/Comments
[none]
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
Answer/Comments
This is particularly helpful as they can assist in monitoring.
6 Do you agree that the section on developing relationships (section 4) is useful?
Yes
Answer/Comments
However, developing relationships and offering support does take resources. It would be absolutely fantastic if ther ewas an equivalent of a PLASC that brough some finance into the LA to enable support and relationships to be built. In an Authority that has very limited finance non statutory activities are minimally resourced.
7 a) Are the suggested resources in section 5 and appendix 2 useful?
Yes
Answer/Comments
Yes – but as above there is a resource issue and unless this is statutory our Members will not prioritise when we are having to make very difficult financial decisions across the board.
7 b) Should any other contacts be included?
Not Sure
Answer/Comments
[none]
8 Please use this space for any other comments you wish to make about the guidelines
Answer/Comments
It still happens that parents are informed of their right to home educate at a time when their child is struggling with attendance and behaviour in a school. I am trying to tie home education targets into the EWO service here so that fewer children/parents opting for this decision is seen as something they have a part in. Similarly, in many cases as home education is an indication of unmet need, it would be really helpful if the SEF and OFSTED looked at the statistics in a school. This whole are is fraught as there are many families who are giving an entirely appropriate education to their children from choice, but too many take it on for the wrong reasons and its about lack of choice.
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