Warwickshire LA
this is a page for Warwickshire news information and comment.
related links:
Meeting the LA Education Department
Guidance on improving LEAs
LA Response to EHE guidelines consultation:
Warks Consultation Response.pdf
Below is a transcript of the response of Warwickshire County Council LA to the DCSF consultation on EHE guidelines.
Personal Details
Name: Vivien Sales
Email: vivsales@warwickshire.gov.uk
Address: Principal Education Social Worker, Warwickshire County Council, Children, Young People & Families Directorate, Saltisford Office Park, Ansell Way, Warwick CV34 4UL
Organisation: Warwickshire County Council
Response on Behalf of an
organisation: Yes
Keep response confidential: No
Allowed to contact in the future: Yes
Request a response
Acknowledgement: No
Request to be informed when the
Consultation results are
Published Yes
1 Do you agree that it is helpful for the DfES to issue guidelines to local authorities?
Yes
Answer/Comments:
But these are NOT effective guidelines in that they do not clearly identify LA responsibilities and are even less clear on how we can discharge those responsibilities. The document is full of contradictions and is 'woolly' (e-g, How can LA's be unambiguous in their info to parents, when the DCSF is so ambiguous about their statutory guidance!)
2 Do you agree that the description of the law (paragraphs 2.1-2.3) relating to elective home education is accurate and clear
No
Answer/Comments
Problematic especially with regard to what is 'full time education, lack of clarity about what is 'efficient and suitable'. Does not support or help parents to know what is expected of them.
The voice of the child is crucial (Every Child Matters, etc) here. However, there is no obligation on parents to allow that voice to be heard, Parents may feel fettered by too many rules and regulations around what they should provide, but what about children & young people who feel unable to assess their progress or unable to reach their full potential because their parents have little effective planning in place?
3 Do you agree that the description of local authorities 2.5-2.11) is accurate and helpful?
No
Answer/Comments
See previous comments.
4 Do you agree that the section on contact with the local authority (paragraphs 3.4Â3.7) Is accurate and helpful?
No
Answer/Comments
What is meant in this context by a 'risk-based approach'? Needs explanation.
How can we establish if information exists unless we are able to access? Responsibility, but no powers. This is particularly worrying in relation to home educated children who may go 'missing' from support systems.
Again, no way to verify the child's view.
This conflicts with 4.1. of the document, which states that the central aim is to 'build effective relationships that function to safeguard the educational interests of young people.
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?
Not Sure
Answer/Comments
We would stronlgy challenge the assertion that in home education ‘there is often almost continuous one-to-one contact. In the best arrangements, of course this is true, but there are many where it is not the case. On what do you base this assertion?
Para 3.13 more helpful, but is contradicted elsewhere - we are told what we might reasonably expect to see, but in other parts of the document told that we should not have any expectation of seeing this!
6 Do you agree that the section on developing relationships (section 4)
is useful?
Not Sure
Answer/Comments
Only to a limited extent. We are expected to provide clear and unambiguous information about the legal responsibilities. How exactly are we to do this on
the basis of this document? There is very little that is 'clear and unambiguous' contained within it.
In Warwickshire we take great pains to develop a supportive and productive relationship with our home educators, based on mutual respect, but there will always be occasions on which we need to be able to challenge poor provision and ensure that it is addressed.
7 a) Are the suggested resources in section 5 and appendix 2 useful?
Yes
Answer/Comments
Largely helpful, but would like something further re identifying centres to take GCSE exams, and maybe a DFSC view on good practice in this, plus assistance with funding for some families. This relates back to the issue of 'not precluding opportunities in later life'. For many young people, the pathway to future opportunities lies via demonstrating exam success, but many families are not able to achive this for thier home educated children.
7 b) Should any other contacts be included?
No Response
Answer/Comments
See above
8 Please use this space for any other comments you wish to make about the guidelines
Answer/Comments
I am both confused and disapppointed by the document. I see very little difference to the document consulted upon this time last year and no evidence that responses made by LA's at that point were taken account of. Frankly these guidelines do little to aid LA's in their task, and may make some children less safe and less fulfilled. We are not seeking draconian powers, simply some acknowledgement of the difficulties inherent in the relationship when things start to go wrong. A great opportunity missed.
END
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