Flexi-schooling

It is not appropriate for schools to mark the register as “approved off-site activity" for the time the pupil is being flexi-schooled as the school has no supervisory role in the child's education at such times and has no responsibility for the welfare of the child while he or she is at home.

Any sessions where the pupil is receiving education at home will be recorded as 'authorised absences' within the school's register. This will have a detrimental impact on the overall absence levels of the school in question.

The code schools are required to enter into their register for any such sessions is the 'C' code which reflects that the pupil is absent due to 'other authorised circumstances'. In other words, the flexi-schooling arrangement has permitted the pupil to be absent from school.

Ofsted

Schools may be concerned that the use of the 'C' code as an 'authorised absence' will have a detrimental effect on Ofsted inspections. Schools will be required to provide a clear narrative behind weaker attendance data when using the 'C' code.

Schools that have flexi-schooled pupils should be ready to discuss with Ofsted inspectors the arrangements they have in place to deal with the requirements of these pupils. Schools are held to account through inspection for the performance of pupils and that will include any who attend the school as part of a programme of flexi-schooling.

Monitoring

Neither the LA nor the school has a statutory duty to monitor the quality of home education on a routine basis.

If it appears to the school that parents or carers are not providing a suitable education as agreed, the school may ask the parent or carer to take remedial action.

If the parent or carer declines to do so or the school is still concerned about the provision of education at home, the school may withdraw its agreement to the flexi-schooling arrangement. The child would then be required to return to school full-time.

A School Attendance Order would not be appropriate as the child is on the roll of a school.