Ed155 Decision to legislate in respect of home education

16 May 2012

Dear ,

Request for Information 6038 - Legislative changes being considered to Elective Home Education

Further to my letter of 26 April 2012 I have not found any recorded information that matches your request for the reasons behind the Minister for Education and Skills' decision to consider legislating in respect of home education.

For your information the Minister made the decision to consider legislation in November 2011.  This decision follows the National Behaviour and Attendance Review (NBAR) which was an independent review conducted on behalf of the Welsh Government and chaired by Professor Ken Reid, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Swansea Metropolitan University. The Welsh Government’s response to the review came in the form of the Behaving and Attending Action Plan.  Both the NBAR Report and the Behaving and Attending Action Plan are publically available online.

Any changes to legislation will be subject to a full consultation and I will retain your details for any future consultation exercise that may take place in respect of elective home education..

If you believe that I have not followed the relevant laws, or you are unhappy with this response, you may request an internal review by writing to:

Chris Burdett
Head of Support for Learners Division
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff, CF10 3NQ

When dealing with any concerns, we will follow the principles set out in the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on Complaints which is available on the Internet at www.wales.gov.uk or by post.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. Normally, however, you should provide us with an opportunity to undertake an internal review before you complain to the Information Commissioner.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545 745
Fax: 01625 524 510
Email: casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk

Also, if you think that there has been maladministration in dealing with your request then you may make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales who can be contacted at:
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Ffordd yr Hen Gae
Pencoed
Bridgend
CF35 5LJ

As mentioned in my previous letter to you, the request you sent me contains personal data about you - for example, your name and email address. I will only use this personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 to deal with your request and any matters which arise as a result of it. I will keep your personal data and all other information relating to your request for three years from the date on which your request is finally closed.  Your personal data will then be disposed of securely.

Any information released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004 will be listed in the Welsh Government’s Disclosure Log.

Yours sincerely

Pupil Wellbeing Branch
Welsh Government