Post by jo70mo on Sept 30, 2011 11:16:29 GMT 1
6. Safeguarding Responsibilities
The LA recognises that parents who home educate their children are no less motivated to promote the welfare and development of their children than parents who send their children to school. The LA also recognises that schools play a key safeguarding role in supporting and overseeing the welfare of children, including those who are at risk of abuse or neglect. Where there is evidence that a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect the LA will ensure that the child's absolute right to protection is given full regard.
To promote safeguarding the welfare of all children including those who are educated at home by parents, all agencies should work together in accordance with the principles in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' 2010.1 Thus, once the LA is made aware of a parent's intention to home educate, the CME team will check whether Children's Social Care are currently involved with the family and if so will ensure that the change of educational provision is communicated to the relevant case worker and recorded on the child's file.
Where a child is subject to a Child Protection plan, any decision to remove the child from roll for purposes of home education will be discussed with the child protection key worker and the EHE Support Worker/Officer will represent education views at any case discussions.
The LA and partner agencies have a shared responsibility to ensure that safeguarding issues are properly monitored and acted upon. Therefore, where there are child protection concerns relating to the safety or wellbeing of a child the LA will seek to work in partnership with families and other agencies to ensure that the arrangements for the child's overall care including their educational needs are consistent with the child's right to protection.
As with school educated children, child protection issues may arise in relation to home educated children. If any such concerns come to light in the course of engagement with children and families, or otherwise, these concerns will immediately be referred to the appropriate services using established protocols. Where a child is identified as possibly a child in need of additional services the EHE support worker/officer will follow standard county procedures in respect of the Common Assessment Framework.
Parents may choose to employ other people to educate their child though they themselves will continue to be responsible for the education provided. They will also be responsible for ensuring that those whom they engage are suitable persons to have access to children. Parents are therefore advised to satisfy themselves by taking up appropriate references and conducting all necessary character enquiries which could include police checks.