DCSF and Badman – the data!

I need some time to tabulate this again, but this is the dcsf data from the HE ‘consultation’. does it look to anyone as if it has been reflected in Mr Badman’s recommendations? no? so what is a stakeholder consultation supposed to achieve then, obviously not democracy in action.

please refer to original on fOI site [thanks to the staffords]

Basic Information
How have respondents responded?
Response Types Responses
On-Line: 2081 99%
Off-Line: 0 0%
Paper based: 0 0%
Email: 13 1%
Total: 2094 100%

Responses Information
Information Responses
Key Responses: 0 0%
Confidential Responses: 960 46%
Acknowledgements Requested (Sent): 1123 (1123) 54% ( 100% )
Future Contact: 887 42%

Respondent Information Questions
Please specify in what capacity you are responding to this questionnaire
Options Responses Across Consultation
A home educating parent: 1418 68% 68%
Member of the public: 207 10% 10%
A home educated child: 199 10% 10%
Other organisation / capacity (Please specify): 162 8% 8%
Working in local authority with other responsibilities: 39 2% 2%
Working with children or families in another capacity(e.g. third sector): 37 2% 2%
Working in local authority with responsibility for home educated children: 31 1% 1%
Total: 2093 100% 100%

Consultation Questions
1 Do you think the current system for safeguarding children who are educated at home is adequate? Please let us know why you think that.
There were 2013 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Yes: 1618 80% 77%
Not Sure: 226 11% 11%
No: 169 8% 8%
Key Indicators:
System will never be failsafe/cannot protect everyone 42 2.1 % 2.0 %
HE parents report to/meet with LA/EWO already/Annual visits are adequate 101 5.0 % 4.8 %
More acceptance/recognition/support for HE 92 4.6 % 4.4 %
More checks/regular contact with LA needed 76 3.8 % 3.6 %
Existing systems/laws/safeguards are adequate 364 18.1 % 17.4 %
Children suffer abuse/bullying etc at school/look at school system 380 18.9 % 18.1 %
HE children are seen by wide range of people/abuse would be reported 210 10.4 % 10.0 %
HE child at no more or less risk than school child 253 12.6 % 12.1 %
This penalises/discriminates/is offensive to HE sector 118 5.9 % 5.6 %
Same guidelines/systems exist for HE as does for all children 137 6.8 % 6.5 %
Home Ed is fine as it is/no further intervention needed 92 4.6 % 4.4 %
Home Ed must register with/be known to LA 58 2.9 % 2.8 %
No evidence suggests they are at risk/where is evidence 159 7.9 % 7.6 %
Current systems to be improved/implemented properly 137 6.8 % 6.5 %
Parents are responsible for safeguarding etc 158 7.8 % 7.5 %
HE parents are caring/committed to childs best interest and safeguarding etc 223 11.1 % 10.6 %

2 a) Be healthy
There were 2049 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Yes: 1954 95% 93%
Not Sure: 68 3% 3%
No: 27 1% 1%
Key Indicators:
HE children are healthier/more aware of healthy living 374 18.3 % 17.9 %
HE children have more opportunity to excersise/be outdoors etc 643 31.4 % 30.7 %
Food healthier at home than at school 362 17.7 % 17.3 %
No exam/testing stress at home 55 2.7 % 2.6 %
Away from risk associated with school (bullying/physical harm/germs etc) 247 12.1 % 11.8 %
HE children spend more time with parents/parents can monitor diets, spot illnesses etc 328 16.0 % 15.7 %
HE children prepare food/cook 185 9.0 % 8.8 %
HE children have less illnesses 59 2.9 % 2.8 %
Cannot ensure children stay healthy 100% of the time 76 3.7 % 3.6 %
No reason why they shouldn’t be/they are as healthy as school children etc. 424 20.7 % 20.2 %

2 b) Stay safe
There were 2043 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Yes: 1936 95% 92%
Not Sure: 67 3% 3%
No: 40 2% 2%
Key Indicators:
Bullying/drugs/knives/underage sex etc associated with/experienced at school 678 33.2 % 32.4 %
Smaller child/adult ratio in HE 158 7.7 % 7.5 %
HE children learn independence/how to look after themselves 136 6.7 % 6.5 %
Parents & family monitor & supervise their child/offer best protection or care 672 32.9 % 32.1 %
HE child be at no more risk than school/other child 253 12.4 % 12.1 %

2 c) Enjoy and achieve
There were 2037 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Yes: 1926 95% 92%
Not Sure: 75 4% 4%
No: 36 2% 2%
Key Indicators:
Children learn at own pace 363 17.8 % 17.3 %
One to one learning 130 6.4 % 6.2 %
HE children achieve good quals 155 7.6 % 7.4 %
Learning is personalised/tailored to child 723 35.5 % 34.5 %

2 d) Make a positive contribution.
There were 2029 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Yes: 1904 94% 91%
Not Sure: 92 5% 4%
No: 33 2% 2%
Key Indicators:
Actively/more involved in community 487 24.0 % 23.3 %
Charity/voluntary/fund raising involvement 186 9.2 % 8.9 %
No less likely than school/other children 157 7.7 % 7.5 %
They are confident/can think for themselves 269 13.3 % 12.8 %
More likely to make a positive contribution 372 18.3 % 17.8 %
Positive contribution to what? 133 6.6 % 6.4 %
They achieve academically/will pursue meaningful careers 61 3.0 % 2.9 %

2 e) achieve economic well-being
There were 1997 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Yes: 1816 91% 87%
Not Sure: 144 7% 7%
No: 37 2% 2%
Key Indicators:
More involved in real life situations/shopping, banking etc 196 9.8 % 9.4 %
Can learn/pursue subjects & careers that interest them/not restricted by curriculum 275 13.8 % 13.1 %
HE children self-motivated/confident/independent etc 303 15.2 % 14.5 %
No different for School or Home Ed children 182 9.1 % 8.7 %
What does this mean? 119 6.0 % 5.7 %
HE achieve better academically 117 5.9 % 5.6 %
Where is evidence/do a survey/provide proof 39 2.0 % 1.9 %
No reason why they shouldn’t/of course etc 265 13.3 % 12.7 %

3 Do you think that Government and local authorities have an obligation to ensure that all children in this country are able to achieve the five outcomes? If you answered yes, how do you think Government should ensure this?.
There were 1985 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
No: 1157 58% 55%
Yes: 571 29% 27%
Not Sure: 257 13% 12%
Key Indicators:
This is the parents’ responsibility 656 33.0 % 31.3 %
Less interference from Govt/LAs 187 9.4 % 8.9 %
Govt/LA responsible when children are in schools 68 3.4 % 3.2 %
Govt/LA should only be responsible where parent irresponsible/fails to provide etc 85 4.3 % 4.1 %
These targets are not ensured at schools/Govt should concentrate on schools 210 10.6 % 10.0 %
Does not agree with the 5 outcomes 127 6.4 % 6.1 %
Govt’s role is provide support/resources/facilities for achieving 5 outcomes 286 14.4 % 13.7 %
Current systems/measurements are adequate 56 2.8 % 2.7 %
This is insulting/discriminiting to HE 32 1.6 % 1.5 %

4 Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for supporting home educating families? If you answered yes, what should they be? If you answered no, why do you think that?
There were 2006 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Yes: 1162 58% 55%
No: 602 30% 29%
Not Sure: 242 12% 12%
Key Indicators:
LA/Govt to be more understanding of/trained in HE 463 23.1 % 22.1 %
General Financial help/help with books, sports access/subs, resources, libraries etc 576 28.7 % 27.5 %
Exam Centre access or help with costs of exams 411 20.5 % 19.6 %
Help not required/needed/procedures ok as they are 286 14.3 % 13.7 %
Too much bureaucracy involved with support 141 7.0 % 6.7 %
Less harrassment from Govt/LA 118 5.9 % 5.6 %
Tax relief/Taxes paid, or have saved the State money! 226 11.3 % 10.8 %
There is no current support 334 16.7 % 16.0 %
Funding for college/able to attend colleges/training 59 2.9 % 2.8 %
Resource centres 67 3.3 % 3.2 %
Flexi-schooling 50 2.5 % 2.4 %
Offer list of HE contacts/support networks/national facilities 149 7.4 % 7.1 %

5 Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for monitoring home educating families? If you answered yes, what should they be? If you answered no, why do you think that?
There were 1995 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
No: 1283 64% 61%
Yes: 477 24% 23%
Not Sure: 235 12% 11%
Key Indicators:
More/regular checks needed 131 6.6 % 6.3 %
Fine as it is 566 28.4 % 27.0 %
LAs need to understand/apply law accordingly/be trained 421 21.1 % 20.1 %
Guidelines needed 47 2.4 % 2.2 %
National consistency within LAs 87 4.4 % 4.2 %
We do not neeed monitoring 468 23.5 % 22.3 %
Mandatory registration 57 2.9 % 2.7 %

6 Some people have expressed concern that home education could be used as a cover for child abuse, forced marriage, domestic servitude or other forms of child neglect. What do you think Government should do to ensure this does not happen?
There were 1812 responses to this question
Options Responses Across Consultation
Key Indicators:
Nothing 58 3.2 % 2.8 %
Concentrate on known/reported cases 155 8.6 % 7.4 %
This is scaremongering/exaggerated/out of proportion 161 8.9 % 7.7 %
More understanding of/awareness/tolerance/info on HE 186 10.3 % 8.9 %
Systems can never be failsafe 105 5.8 % 5.0 %
This happens to school children/Look at schools 686 37.9 % 32.8 %
Welfare & education not the same thing 57 3.1 % 2.7 %
Too much emphasis on HE/insulting/offensive/discriminative 515 28.4 % 24.6 %
This is Soc Serv’s role – refer to SS 80 4.4 % 3.8 %
Abuse would be picked up by doctors/neighbours etc 110 6.1 % 5.3 %
Where is the proof/evidence etc 616 34.0 % 29.4 %
Staffing issues (pay,training, quality of staff etc) 42 2.3 % 2.0 %
Proper support for HE (finance,books,sports subs etc) 25 1.4 % 1.2 %
Soc Servs needs overhaul/more resource etc 134 7.4 % 6.4 %
Govt to get own house in order 48 2.6 % 2.3 %
More awareness of warning signs 26 1.4 % 1.2 %
This is excuse to regulate/intrude on HE 113 6.2 % 5.4 %
Current systems & laws ok/or ok if implemented properly 225 12.4 % 10.7 %
HE’s good parents/caring/committed/give up time etc 201 11.1 % 9.6 %
Regular checks/on the spot checks/monitoring or registration 178 9.8 % 8.5 %