Written Assembly Questions tabled on 27 March 2015 for answer on 7 April 2015

R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): What rights does a local education authority have to demand evidence of educational provision from a home educating parent? (WAQ68559)

Answer received on 7 April 2015

The Minister for Education and Skills (Huw Lewis): Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 places a duty on Local Authorities (LAs) which consists of two parts. The first part requires a LA to identify (so far as it is possible to do so) all learners of compulsory school age in their area who are not on a school roll. The second part requires a LA to establish if such learners are receiving a suitable education.

Mark Isherwood (North Wales): How does the Welsh Government ensure that demands made by local education authorities for home educating parents to provide evidence of the acceptability of their educational provision, are in line with the 'Inclusion and Pupil Support - Elective Home Education' document? (WAQ68560)

Answer received on 7 April 2015

Huw Lewis: It is not the responsibility of the Welsh Government to ensure that the steps taken by LAs to establish whether a child is receiving a suitable education are commensurate with the Inclusion and Pupil Support guidance document.  LAs must satisfy themselves that they are operating in accordance with the law and/or any associated guidance documents.