Education Otherwise than at School

Education Otherwise than at School

Inquiry5

The Children, Young People and Education Committee undertook an inquiry into the range of Education Otherwise that at School (EOTAS) provision including Pupil Referral Units. It focussed specifically on the:

  • Reasons for and support available for children and young people at risk of EOTAS, including through their exclusion from mainstream provision;
  • How effectively parents are engaged and supported throughout the EOTAS process;
  • The variation in rates of EOTAS for children and young people with particular characteristics (such as learners with special educational needs or who are eligible for free school meals) and the consequences of this;
  • The levels of financial support available to support EOTAS and children and young people at risk of becoming EOTAS and whether this represents value for money;
  • Responsibility and accountability for the education of pupils who become EOTAS;
  • Attainment of children and young people EOTAS ;
  • Outcomes and wellbeing of children and young people EOTAS;
  • The quality of support provided to children and young people in the range of EOTAS provision;
  • Professional development support for Pupil Referral Unit staff, including those who provide home tuition;
  • The potential risks for children and young people EOTAS such as increased barriers to accessing mental health support, increased risk of involvement with crime and the criminal justice system such as ‘county lines’;
  • Other issues closely linked to EOTAS, for example managed moves, and the ‘off-rolling’ of pupils.

 

The Committee’s inquiry included individual home tuition but did not focus on the separate issue of elective home education.

 

Blog

Senedd Research produced blogs with more information on this topic:

Education Otherwise than at School

 

Evidence session

Date, Agenda and Minutes

Transcript

Video

1. Evidence session

Ann Keane, Former Chair of the Welsh Government EOTAS task and finish group (group ceased to exist early 2017)

Professor Brett Pugh, Chair of the Welsh Government delivery group for EOTAS (current group

22 January 2020

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Watch on Senedd.tv

2. Children’s Commissioner for Wales

Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales (via video conference)

Jane Houston, Policy Advisor – Office of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales (via video conference)

5 February 2020

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Watch on Senedd.tv

3. Estyn

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director

Dyfrig Ellis, Assistant Director

Denise Wade, Her Majesty’s Inspector

5 February 2020

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4. Representatives from Teaching Unions

Mairead Canavan, Vale of Glamorgan District Secretary and National Executive Union (NEU) Executive Member

Tim Cox – Wales Policy and Casework Official, NASUWT

Dilwyn Roberts-Young - General Secretary, Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (UCAC)

5 February 2020

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Watch on Senedd.tv

5. Welsh Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Education

Sharon Davies, Head of Learning, Torfaen County Borough Council and representing Association of Directors of Education in Wales

Nick Williams, Director of Education, Swansea City and County Council and representing Association of Directors of Education in Wales

David Hopkins, Interim Head of Education - Welsh Local Government Association

5 March 2020

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Watch on Senedd.tv

6. Samaritans and Mind Cymru

Sarah Stone, Executive Director for Wales - Samaritans

Liz Williams, Policy and Communications Officer – Samaritans

Dr Ian Johnson, Manager, Children and Young People’s Mental Health – Mind Cymru

5 March 2020

Read transcript

Watch on Senedd.tv

 

The Minister for Education was due to give evidence on 19 March 2020 however, the COVID -19 pandemic required the Committee to re-purpose this session. As a substitute for the session the Committee wrote (PDF 274KB) to the Minister for Education for a written update. On the 16 October 2020 the Minister for Education provided a response (PDF 725KB).

 

Public Engagement

As part of our inquiry, we developed a survey to ensure families accessing EOTAS and staff working in EOTAS provisions could share their comments and experiences and feed into the wider inquiry.

 

We produced a summary (PDF 225KB) of the results.

 

On 28 November 2019, Committee members visited three settings supporting children and young people receiving education otherwise than at school (EOTAS). These settings were located in Bridgend, Cardiff and Caernarfon.

 

We produced a summary (PDF 186KB) note

 

Output

On 23 March 2021 the Committee wrote (PDF 276KB) to the Minister for Education highlighting the key principles arising from evidence received for the EOTAS inquiry.

The Welsh Government responded (PDF, 263KB) to the Committee’s correspondence on 31 March 2021.

 

Business type: Committee Inquiry

Reason considered: Senedd Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 25/06/2019

Documents

Consultations