Written question WQ88356
- Asked by
- Jane DoddsLib Dem
- To be answered by
- Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What processes will the Welsh Government introduce to ensure that adequate review is made of home education assessors' training and conduct, and that families of home-educated children have ways to report their concerns?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
It is for local authorities to appoint officers with the appropriate skills and experiences and to provide them with ongoing professional development to enable them to carry out their role effectively.
My officials facilitated training sessions with local authority officers prior to the implementation of the new statutory guidance.
My officials continue to work closely with local authority officers to support the implementation of the new statutory guidance and promote consistency of approach.
We understand that there may be occasions when the local authority and parents disagree as to what is a suitable education. Our guidance is clear in that the local authority should make every effort to ensure there is extensive engagement with the parents, however, if having made all reasonable attempts through discussions with a parent, the local authority remains unsatisfied that the education being provided is suitable and efficient, they will then follow formal processes outlined in legislation and serve a notice in writing requiring the parent to satisfy them within the period specified in the notice that the child is receiving such education. It would then be for the legal process to determine whether the education being provided is suitable and efficient.