I have added a link to my Pilot Areas Children’s Database Wales page containing further information about opting out including template letters. Read more here https://edyourself.org/pilot-areas-wales-cme-database/
News
49 posts
I have updated my post-16 Universal Credit page to add information about issues with local authority letters plus DWP clarification re UC accepting Child Benefit as proof https://edyourself.org/universal-credit/
I have created 2 new pages to provide further information on database proposals for Wales https://edyourself.org/pilot-areas-wales-cme-database/ (updated 16.10.24) + https://edyourself.org/children-missing-education-wales/
On September 11th 2024 the Minister confirmed that “database arrangements will be piloted across a small number of local authorities for the first year”. My consultation page has now been updated, read more here https://edyourself.org/wales-cme-database-consultation/
On September 5th 2024 Lord Storey’s Home School Education Registration and Support Bill [LINK] had its first reading – without debate – in the House of Lords. The bill was 13th in the private members bill ballot [LINK] which means that second reading – with debate – will not be for a few months. This bill is unconnected with the government’s Children’s Wellbeing Bill [LINK] mentioned in the Kings Speech which has not been published yet. More about private members bills here
In Wales, statements of special educational needs are being replaced by Individual Development Plans which are different from statements (or EHCPs as in England) Read more here https://edyourself.org/wales-home-educating-with-special-needs/
Two new sets of regulations related to pupils in and out of school came into force yesterday. This was flagged up in a news post from March 2024. The 2006 Pupil Registration Regulations (covering deregistration) no longer apply, and in addition, there are new requirements for reporting absence more promptly to the LA. Read more here https://edyourself.org/pupil-registration-regulations-2024/ and here https://edyourself.org/technical-changes-cme-guidance-2024/
The Kings Speech on July 17th 2024 included proposals for a Children Not In School Register as part of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill. Read more here https://edyourself.org/registration-in-kings-speech-july-2024/
Shortly before the general election was announced, the Department for Education launched a consultation on the use of alternative provision under section 19 plus EOTAS with EHCPs. It closes on July 5th. Read my consultation response here https://edyourself.org/alternative-provision-consultation-response-2024/ LINK TO CONSULTATION HERE https://consult.education.gov.uk/behaviour-attendance-exclusions-and-alternative-provision/strengthening-protections-in-unregistered-ap/
The Welsh government’s plans for a children missing education database rely on doctors to share patient information. The General Medical Council [GMC] does not seem convinced, read more here https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2024/05/23/gmc-response-wales-cme-database-consultation/
The Department for Education is proposing new national standards and time limits for pupils in alternative provision. There will also be new rules for children unable to attend school and for those receiving EOTAS (part-time or full-time) via an EHCP. I explain more here https://edyourself.org/unregistered-alternative-provision-new-rules/ CONSULTATION CLOSES 5.7.24
I have just submitted my response for the Wales CME database consultation which closes this Thursday April 25th. The link for the consultation is here https://www.gov.wales/node/59753/respond-online and I have posted a copy of my response here https://edyourself.org/consultation-response-cme-database-wales/
I am sharing my draft CME database consultation (Wales) response here https://edyourself.org/consultation-response-cme-database-wales/ I am not based in Wales but the education law Wales is relying on applies to both England and Wales
Here is a one page summary and introduction to the pages on this website about the Wales Children’s Database https://edyourself.org/guide-to-wales-cme-database/ The database consultation closes on April 25th. The Welsh government has still not uploaded a child-friendly version of the consultation
The Welsh government wants GPs to hand over the name, address, date of birth and gender of nearly half a million children. Read more https://edyourself.org/gp-data-half-a-million-children-wales/ + https://edyourself.org/why-include-gps-in-wales-database/ Reminder that the database consultation closes on April 25th
The Welsh government plans to pilot the children’s database in a small number of councils where it will only apply to a few children initially but once section 29 is brought into force, any future government will be free to expand the database as much as it wants. Read more here https://edyourself.org/childrens-database-wales-law-but-not-law/
On Friday March 15th 2024 MP Flick Drummond’s home education bill had its Second Reading in the House of Commons. Read more here about what this means https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2024/03/16/flick-drummond-home-education-bill/
The Wales database proposals will have significant impact on home educating families who are already known to the LA. This may or may not have been intended. Read more here https://edyourself.org/wales-database-impact-children-already-known/
See also 1/ https://edyourself.org/wales-cme-database-consultation/ + 2/ https://edyourself.org/legal-powers-for-childrens-database-wales/ + 3/ https://edyourself.org/details-childrens-database-wales/ + 4/ https://edyourself.org/2024-wales-database-compared-with-2020/ + 5/ https://edyourself.org/data-sharing-childrens-database-wales/
The Welsh government has come up with a supposedly scaled-down version of the children’s database it tried to introduce in 2020. I have written a new web page about how the two versions compare https://edyourself.org/2024-wales-database-compared-with-2020/
In response to queries about the changes to the Pupil Registration Regulations and exactly what they mean for home educators, I have just published a new web page https://edyourself.org/pupil-registration-regulations-2024/
The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 laid yesterday in parliament will come into force on August 19th 2024 and will replace the 2006 Regulations. Deregistration from mainstream school for home education is currently covered by Regulation 8 (1)(d) 2006 but after August 19th it will be Regulation 9 (1)(f) of the 2024 Regulations.The exact wording for deleting pupil names from the school roll is also slightly different; my page on deregistration has more details https://edyourself.org/deregistration/ (For updated links on deregistration from special school click here https://edyourself.org/taking-child-out-of-special-school/ )
I have just written two new pages to explain the proposed Welsh database of “children potentially missing education.” The first page explains how the Welsh government hopes to adapt the database provisions in the Children Act 2004 because this is easier than passing a new law https://edyourself.org/legal-powers-for-childrens-database-wales/ The second page sets out exactly what is proposed https://edyourself.org/details-childrens-database-wales/
Minister Damian Hinds said yesterday in Parliament that the recent guidance consultation which closed on January 18th had received more than 4,000 responses. The shortened Hansard link is here http://tinyurl.com/5n842f37 By comparison, the 2019 children not in school consultation number was “nearly 5,000”; the 2018 guidance consultation was 3441; the 2009 Badman review consultation was 5211; and the 2007 Guidelines consultation was 919.
The Welsh government is proposing that the names and addresses of school age children using health services in Wales (including being registered with a GP) be passed on to the local authority where the child lives so that the LA can maintain a database of children “potentially missing education.” Read more here https://edyourself.org/wales-cme-database-consultation/
Towards the end of 2023 the government put forward some possible changes to the guidance on home education. A public consultation ended on 18.1.24. The government will now consider the responses to the consultation and will publish an official statement about next steps in due course. More information about consultation principles can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance
Meanwhile 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 My web page on the guidance is here https://edyourself.org/guidance/
I have posted a write up of the Facebook discussion from a couple of days ago here https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2024/01/12/answer-day-summary-home-education-guidance-consultation/ I have added a few extras and also pulled out some General Points. There is no rule says the government has to go with the majority in a consultation but there might be a tipping point where the proposed changes no longer seem such a good idea particularly if operational difficulties become apparent or if it looks likely to be counter-productive. This is where words matter in those answer boxes! REMINDER CONSULTATION CLOSES THURSDAY JANUARY 18TH
On Wednesday January 10th I will be answering queries and responding to comments about the home education guidance consultation. More details here https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2024/01/08/answer-day-wednesday-january-10th-2024/
The law on home education is unchanged. In place of new law, the government is testing the waters as to how far existing law can be stretched. My new blog post summarises the proposed changes and considers the possible impact on relationships between home educating families and the local authority. It also has tips on how to give feedback via the consultation which is open till January 18th. https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2024/01/03/changes-to-home-education-guidance-introduction/ See also https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2024/01/04/why-is-the-home-education-guidance-so-long/
For everyone who has told me “I know it’s important but I haven’t been able to face looking at it yet I have written this blog post https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2024/01/02/home-education-guidance-consultation/ It sets out a few simple steps for trying the “save and come back later” option on the consultation form (with screenshots!) so you can feel you have made a start.
Meanwhile all my other consultation pages are linked from here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/#allpages and the consultation CLOSES ON JANUARY 18TH
I have recently published 2 new pages about the home education guidance consultation https://edyourself.org/7-consultation-questions-and-suggested-pages + https://edyourself.org/safeguarding-in-new-guidance-2/ (ensuring “sufficient secular education” by way of literacy and numeracy checks)
All my pages on the consultation are linked from here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/#allpages
A closer look at the SEND Chapter has revealed some problems. 2 new web pages have just been added https://edyourself.org/special-educational-needs-in-new-guidance/ + https://edyourself.org/special-needs-in-new-guidance-2/
My Starting Page has links to all the consultation pages on this site https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/
The safeguarding chapter in the new draft home education guidance is much the same as the current guidance but because of what now appears elsewhere in the guidance, the advice on safeguarding has become even more problematic. New web page on Safeguarding in the New Guidance https://edyourself.org/safeguarding-in-new-guidance/
My Starting Page has links to all the consultation pages on this site https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/
The online consultation form for the new draft home education guidance puts respondents into different categories depending on their background. Most of the questions which follow are multiple choice which enables responses to be sorted eg x% of parents agreed; x% of local authorities agreed. 10 questions have a comment box for writing your answer. DfE is likely to use automated textual analysis which will search for key words and phrases in the written responses. Read more here https://edyourself.org/online-consultation-new-guidance/ My Starting Page has links to all the consultation pages on this site https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/
The new draft guidance encourages information gathering on a far bigger scale than any previous guidance yet has virtually nothing to say about GDPR or the statutory responsibilities of being a data controller plus there is no mention of the need for Privacy Notices or complying with Subject Access Requests. New web page https://edyourself.org/data-protection-in-new-guidance/ My Starting Page has links to all the consultation pages on this site https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/
In the new draft guidance support is left entirely up to local authorities to decide as part of their local process. Nothing is a must-do. Annual monitoring is one of the potential support options. The consultation asks for your views. Read my new web page here https://edyourself.org/support-in-new-guidance/
The Starting Page for the consultation with links to all documents and web pages is here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/ CLOSES 18.1.24.
In the new draft home education guidance all the investigation and weighing up of evidence has been brought forward to the informal enquiries stage as part of a detailed “assessment of suitability”. The consultation asks a number of questions about this. I have created 2 new web pages to assist with your response https://edyourself.org/informal-process-in-new-guidance/ + https://edyourself.org/formal-process-in-new-guidance/ The Starting Page for the consultation with links to all documents and all the consultation pages on my site is here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/ CLOSES 18.1.24.
The sentence “this should not be taken as implying that it is the responsibility of parents under s.436A to ‘prove’ that education at home is suitable” no longer appears in the new draft home education guidance for local authorities. What does this mean for home educators? Read more here https://edyourself.org/will-parents-have-to-prove-suitable-education/ The Starting Page for the consultation with links to all documents and all the consultation pages on my site is here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/ CLOSES 18.1.24.
Assessment of suitability is the big idea in the new draft home education guidance with LAs seeking to “establish the child’s levels of literacy and numeracy”. This has massive implications if LAs feel parents are not co-operating to the fullest extent. Read my new page here https://edyourself.org/suitable-education-in-new-guidance-2/ The Starting Page for the consultation with links to all documents and web pages is here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/ CLOSES 18.1.24.
In view of the current consultation mentioning “several edits to the guidance to aid in the understanding of suitable education” I have just published two new pages https://edyourself.org/suitable-education/ + https://edyourself.org/suitable-education-in-new-guidance/ The Starting Page for the consultation with links to all documents and web pages is here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/ CLOSES 18.1.24.
The Department for Education is proposing to issue new guidance on home education. A public consultation opened on October 26th 2023 which runs till January 18th 2024. Read more here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/
The Child Element of Universal Credit can continue to be paid on behalf of home educated young people over the age of 16 when they meet the conditions for being treated as a “qualifying young person.” Read my new page here https://edyourself.org/universal-credit/
In June 2022, the Department for Education included a consultation question about changing the regulations so that the local authority would have to agree before a child with an EHC Plan (or other statutory Plan) could be deregistered from the roll of a mainstream school for home education. At the end of August 2023 the government confirmed that this would NOT be taken forward. Hence the law is unchanged and consent is ONLY required for deregistration from special school. My page with more information and links about deregistering a child from mainstream school is here https://edyourself.org/deregistration/
May 2023. MP Flick Drummond has introduced a Private Members Bill to register children not in school under the 10 Minute Rule. I have blogged about it here. NB at the end of July this bill ceased to exist when the government announced the end of the current parliamentary session. My blog explains more.
February 2023 – When a child with an EHCP is home educated, parents cannot legally be required to make the provision in Section F or set targets for Section E. My new web page with full legal references is here.
January 2023 – Now that the Schools Bill is dead, it seemed a good time to update my page on the current Elective Home Education Guidance, covering School Attendance Orders; Children Missing Education; De-schooling; Suitable Education; Literacy and Numeracy; Progress; Annual Contact; Monitoring; Home Visits; and Safeguarding Powers. Read more here.
Education Otherwise Than At School – or EOTAS – also known as alternative provision – is where the local authority is responsible for the provision of education when a child age 5 – 16 does not attend school. I have made a new web page which you can read here.
News up to 2023
Schools Bill December 2022
The Schools Bill has been dropped. Secretary of State Gillian Keegan confirmed this to the Education Committee on Wednesday December 7th 2022. Read more here
Schools Bill Stuck in House of Lords
The Schools Bill finished Report Stage in the House of Lords in July 2022. Third Reading (the final stage before it goes to the House of Commons) was set for September 14th but by September 8th this date had disappeared from the schedule. (The first 18 clauses of the Bill dealing with multi-academy trusts had already been removed to be looked at separately.)
Registration Proposals in new Schools Bill 2022
Proposals for a register of children not in school have been included in which is beginning in the House of Lords. The Schools Bill was discussed for the first time in parliament on May 23rd 2022. Read my web page on the register here
Register of Children Not in School 2022
On February 3rd 2022 the Department for Education published its response to the consultation from April 2019, affirming that it still intended to go ahead with a register of children not in school.
Portsmouth Judicial Review
On November 16th 2021 the outcome of Christina Goodred v Portsmouth City Council and the Secretary of State for Education was published. Read more here
Exam Arrangements 2022
Information was published in November 2021 about exams going ahead in Summer 2022 + contingency arrangements for Teacher Assessed Grades for private candidates if exams have to be cancelled due to covid. My exams page is here
Education Committee Report, Government Response
In November 2021 the government provided its response to the Education Committee report on home education, confirming that it intended to outline next steps for registration of children not in school some time soon.
New Case Law EOTAS Special Needs, October 2021
I won this case at the Upper Tribunal. It deals with LAs not naming a school in the EHCP where the provision will be EOTAS [Education Otherwise Than At School] My introductory page on home education and special needs is here and my SEND tribunals page is here
Exam Arrangements 2021
On February 25th 2021 the Department for Education confirmed arrangements for exam grades in Summer 2021 stating that a list of available centres would be published shortly.
Wales Abandons Proposed Changes 2020
On June 22nd 2020 the Welsh Government published a statement saying that “it will not now be possible to complete the planned work on the home education statutory guidance and database regulations within this Government term.” Read more here
Regulating Education Institutions Consultation
On February 14th 2020 the Department for Education launched a consultation on changes to the regulation of full time independent education institutions. My page on unregistered schools is here.
Second Successful Prosecution Illegal School 2019
In September 2019 the proprietors of Ambassadors High School in Streatham were convicted of running an illegal school. My page on unregistered schools is here
Timpson Review School Exclusions May 2019
In May 2019 the Department for Education published Edward Timpson’s Review into School Exclusions, together with the formal government response to the review, and a new call for evidence leading to possible changes in law and guidance. Read more here
Consultation Registration Proposals April 2019
On April 2nd 2019 the Department for Education launched a new consultation on proposals to establish a local authority registration system for children who do not attend state-funded or registered independent schools.
Government Response 2018 Consultation/Call for Evidence
On April 2nd 2019 the Department for Education published its response to the 2018 home education consultation/call for evidence, including “next steps”.
New Home Education Guidance April 2019
On April 2nd 2019 the Department for Education published new non-statutory guidance for local authorities. Read more here
Consultation Safeguarding Code Practice Out of School Settings 2018
December 2018 consultation on draft voluntary safeguarding code of practice for out of school settings.
First Successful Prosecution Illegal School 2018
In October 2018 the proprietors of the Al-Istiqamah Learning Centre in Ealing were convicted of running an illegal school. My page on unregistered schools is here
School Exclusions Review Call for Evidence 2018
The Department for Education has asked former Children’s Minister Ed Timpson to look at school exclusions.
Government Response Out of School Settings Call For Evidence
April 2018: The Department for Education has published its response to the 2015 call for evidence on out of school settings (possible light touch registration for settings providing 6+ hours education per week) No changes are to be introduced.
New Ofsted Inspection System Children’s Services
Ofsted new framework for the Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services [ILACS] will begin in 2018. Each year, Ofsted will ask local authorities to share a self-evaluation of social work practice and meet with Ofsted regional representatives to discuss data, plus there will be standard and short inspections.
Publication New Home Education Guidance Wales 2017
New home education guidance for Wales was published in January 2017. My page on Wales is here.
Intervention in Inadequate LAs
New blog post on what is happening in LAs rated inadequate by Ofsted, how close they are to being taken over etc. Read more here.
Revised Statutory CME Guidance September 2016
Revised guidance has been published on Children Missing Education to take account of changes to the Pupil Registration Regulations. My page on CME is here.
Supreme Court Named Person (Scotland)
Following the Supreme Court ruling at the end of July 2016, the Scottish Government was unable to implement the Named Person measures.
Increased Tracking Children Coming Out Of School 2016
The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 will be amended from September 1st 2016
Child Practice Review Dylan Seabridge 2016
On July 8th Pembrokeshire Council published a Concise Child Practice Review into the death of Dylan Seabridge. More. My page on home education in Wales is here
How Organising Events Can Affect State Benefits
How organising events, trips, groups etc can affect your state benefits (including Housing Benefit) Read my blog post here
Home Education APPG March 2016
March 2016 All Party Parliamentary Group for Home Education meeting about special educational needs with Stuart Miller, Deputy Director SEN at DfE.
NSPCC
Roundtable discussion home education and safeguarding with the NSPCC
Out of School Settings
January 2016 debate in parliament. More
Report of AEHEP Launch February 2015
The Association of Elective Home Education Professionals – a national body for local authority personnel – held a launch at the House of Commons in February 2015.
Updated CME Guidance England 2015
The fourth revised version of Children Missing Education Guidance (England) was published in January 2015.
Launch Association EHE Professionals
The new Association of Elective Home Education Professionals (England) is holding a launch on 26th February 2015.
New SEN Code Practice 2014
SEN Code of Practice approved by parliament July 2014. My page on home education provisions in the Code is here
Children and Families Act 2014
The Children and Families Act is now law, with a new system for SEN and disability. My introductory page on EHCPs is here.
Council Support for Exams
Exams Report: how do local councils help home educating families with exams.
Government Guidance 14-16s College
DfE guidance on college funding for home educated 14-16s – my web page is here
New Statutory Guidance Post-16 Participation
“For young people who are being home educated, no hourly requirement of education applies: the amount and content of that education is at the discretion of the home educator…No on-going monitoring of the education is required.” My web page is here
Education Committee Report Support For Home Education 2012
Education Committee publishes report into Support for Home Education, December 2012.
APPG Meeting SEN + Disability 2012
All Party Parliamentary Group Meeting November 2012 to discuss changes to funding and assessment for Special Educational Needs and Disability.
All Party Parliamentary Group 2011 Exams
May 2011: Government Drops Plan Delay Deregistration
Minister Nick Gibb announces in the House of Commons that the Government will not now be introducing a 20 day delay in removing child’s name from the school roll.