Agenda item

Jeanne Pratt, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Schools Forum received a report outlining a proposal around funding for Electively Home Educated (EHE) pupils as the number of pupils EHE is increasing. It was requested that consideration be given to using a similar system as is currently used for permanently excluded pupils and fair access pupils.

It was noted that currently the system does not allow discussion to be held around if parents are capable of home educating, therefore a multi-agency panel has been set up to look at this. The point was made that there are families who do not have the capability to home educate and therefore this enables support to be provided to those families.

It was proposed therefore that when a pupil comes of roll to be EHE the funding will be removed from the school and given to the local authority to hold the money, a proportion will then be given back to the school if the pupil returns, or alternatively it will be used to support the child being home educated.

The Forum agreed that a scheme was essential as this is often dealing with the most vulnerable children.

The point was made that removal of funding will penalise schools if a child leaves before the November census as the school will never have received that funding. It was also noted that Academies could refuse to agree to the scheme. It was confirmed that currently when funding is calculated for a permanently excluded pupil checks are done to ensure the pupil is on the census before funding is removed.

It was questioned where the funding goes once it is removed from the school. It was confirmed that the funding will sit with the local authority and will be used to provide additional funding if they return to school or will be used to support alternative education. The Fair Access Panel would oversee the funding by default.

It was queried why the local authority do not fund these pupils. It was confirmed however that the local authority fund staff who manage and oversee EHE pupils and this is not a statutory function of the Council. It was noted that once a child is removed from school there is no funding attached to that child, therefore this only relates to funding for a portion of the one year because thereafter there would be no funding. Thus the incentive is to get pupils back on roll before the census so that funding can be applied.

It was questioned whether support would be provided if pupils were taken in from out of the Borough. It was acknowledged that there would be money in the pot to support pupils from out of the area as funding would be available from those pupils who did not return to education.

It was confirmed that the funding would be monitored through regular budget meetings and by the Fair Access Panel, cross referenced by Carole Smith, therefore a number of checks and balances are already in place. It was also agreed that future reports can be brought to the Forum to identify how much money has been recouped through the EHE scheme.

As the Forum was unable to agree to the proposal on behalf of individual Academies it was agreed that the report be taken to GASH and Primary Academies. It was requested that information be provided to show numbers of EHE pupils, which can be provided to GASH.

RESOLVED    -           (i)         That the views of all Academies be sought on the

transfer of funds out of a school once a pupil leaves to be home educated and the process of recoupment and redistribution on the same basis as permanent exclusions and managed moves.

                                    (ii)        That a further report be brought back to the Forum for

agreement following consultation with Academies.