Agenda and draft minutes

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Items 4 and 5 considered at the same time.

Sharon Randall-Smith delivered a presentation, introduced the report and answered the members’ questions with Sonia Morgan and Suzanne Challenger:

Is an annual visit enough for Elective Home Education (EHE) learners?

Annual visits are formal welfare and curriculum checks, but enrichment activities throughout the year provide additional opportunities to see children and families regularly. Newly deregistered learners receive an initial visit, followed by an annual visit about three months later, and ongoing contact is maintained via email or phone.

How long do annual visits last?

Visit duration varies, lasting from one to three hours depending on the family's needs and the information they wish to share.

Is one dedicated officer enough given the increased number of EHE learners, and when will the limit be reached?

The significant increase in EHE numbers is acknowledged. The wider EWS team is currently supporting EHE work, with hopes to increase capacity in the near future.

Do enrichment activities allow for deeper assessment, and is a true picture of problem families obtained with only one hour a year? Would more time be ideal?

Enrichment activities are valuable for building relationships and observing children in different settings, but the primary focus is ensuring that children are safe, happy, and developing necessary skills, rather than formal assessment.

What percentage of families attend the enrichment activities?

Attendance is very high. While no exact percentage was given, the response indicates that enrichment activities are “really well attended by pretty much most families.” The high attendance is attributed to strong relationships with families in Monmouthshire.

Are the enrichment activities optional?

Yes. Enrichment activities are entirely optional. Nothing is compulsory, but attendance remains strong due to the good engagement and rapport with families.

What happens when parents or children will not engage with enrichment activities?

Some families can be “difficult to engage,” but these cases are rare. There is no legal right to demand to see a child solely because they are home?educated. The team still attempts to maintain communication with these families and if there are concerns, we can work with other agencies to access and check on the child and family. If there are serious concerns about the education being provided, we can issue a School Attendance Order (SAO), which would require the child to return to school. SAOs are very rare, though, largely due to the strong work the team does with families.

Are annual visits statutory (legally required)?

No, annual visits are not statutory. There is no legal power to require a child to be seen. Engagement is encouraged through positive relationships rather than legal obligation.

Can home-educated children may miss out on daily social interaction and learning to mix with peers, regardless of the quality of home teaching?

Most home-educated learners in Monmouthshire attend various group activities, clubs, and enrichment opportunities, ensuring they have ample chances to socialize and build meaningful friendships. Even those in rural areas generally have good transport and are active in the community.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

This item considered with item 4 above.

There are changes to the work programme since the agenda was published, with the next meeting including the Disability Confident Pledge and the Corporate Parenting Strategy, which is time-sensitive and will be prioritized. The Gypsy and Travellers Allocation Policy is pending confirmation and may be scheduled before other items if it becomes time-sensitive. Other items, such as the Youth Service and Public Library Strategy, have been moved down the schedule and will be confirmed later.

Noted.

The minutes were agreed, moved by Councillor Groucutt and seconded by Councillor Jones.