In the home education guidance consultation there are only 7 questions where there is an opportunity to write something about the proposed new local authority guidance as opposed to just ticking a multiple choice box. There are 3 further text boxes for comments on the parents’ guidance but these are not covered here.
The new guidance is not ready to be used. It is still at the draft stage. The current guidance remains in force until such time as a final new version is published. The current guidance can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/elective-home-education
A consultation is not an exam. In an exam the important thing is just to answer the question whereas in a consultation the bigger picture is equally important. (This is understood and even invited by terms such as “any comments” and “or further information” in the consultation questions)
The Department for Education is likely to use automated textual analysis which searches for key words and phrases in the written responses. The multiple choice questions (which you can preview here https://edyourself.org/online-consultation-new-guidance) focus on whether the new guidance is clear, consistent, helpful, proportionate, supportive, and likely to encourage positive relations, so your written answers should do the same.
NB Machine reading will group together all the answers which are saying exactly the same thing as other respondents and these will be categorised – and downgraded as “campaign responses” because they are seen as model or copied answers requiring little thought. By contrast, responses which have the most impact always come from people who have taken time and trouble to express their own views in their own words.
- Q7 Do you have any comments regarding the tone or general content of the guidance, including consideration of protected characteristics or further information that illustrates your answers above?
- Q17 Do you have any comments regarding how suitable education is outlined in the guidance or further information that illustrates your answers above? [Including whether the suggested new “engagement” system is proportionate]
- Q21 Do you have any comments regarding what the guidance says about preliminary notices and SAOs [School Attendance Orders] or further information that illustrates your answers above?
- Q24 Do you have any comments regarding SEND [Special Educational Needs and Disability] in relation to EHE [Elective Home Education] or further information that illustrates your answers above?
- Q27 Do you have any comments regarding support for parents in the EHE guidance or further information that illustrates your answers above?
- Q29 Are there other issues you would like to see us address through case studies or further information that illustrates your answer above?
- Q32 Do you have any further comments related to safeguarding in the EHE guidance or further information that illustrates your answers above?