Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director of Resources which presented the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s review report focusing on elective home education in County Durham (for copy see file of minutes).

The Chair welcomed Councillor H Smith, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee who presented the report and recommendations. Councillor Smith thanked the review group members and representatives from the council, partner agencies, parents, carers and their children for their valuable contribution to the review.

Councillor Gunn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, on behalf of the Cabinet, thanked Councillor Smith and members of the review group for their work.  Cabinet noted the review was timely in the current climate, with large numbers of children being educated at home.  Councillor Gunn added that Cabinet will continue to lobby government to ensure the suitability of home education and the safeguarding of children and young people. 

The Cabinet welcomed the recommendations for a common framework for oversight of the quality of education and safeguarding of those electively home educated; to continue to ensure a good level of understanding in relation to special educational needs and disabilities in all school settings, and, to develop a good practice reporting tool, including concerns around bullying.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.