The Education Inclusion Service (Compliance and Case Management) undertakes the statutory and legal functions of the local authority in respect of:

• irregular school attendance
• children missing education
• elective home education
• child employment
• performance licensing

The service works with children, families and multi-agency partners to identify and overcome individual barriers to learning. And to impact positively on the life chances of all our children and young people. Including those in care and North Lincolnshire’s identified vulnerable groups. These include children and young people who are struggling with, or unable to attend mainstream school due to varying reasons.

All children who are aged between 5 and 16 years are entitled to an appropriate full time education (from the term after their fifth birthday until the last Friday in June of the academic year in which they become 16 years old).

If a child of compulsory school age who is registered at a school fails to attend regularly at the school, the parent is guilty of an offence. “Regularly” means in accordance with the rules prescribed by the school, which is in the school’s term time calendar.

Reducing absence from school is a key priority at both national and local level. Missing school reduces a pupil’s educational attainment chances and increases vulnerabilities and risks. If a parent fails to secure regular school attendance at school or alternative provision, they could face a Penalty Notice or prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court. If convicted. This could result in a fine of up to £2500 and/or a 3 month custodial sentence. See Penalty Notice leaflet [PDF, 296Kb]

Should you have any concerns regarding your child’s attendance, please speak to the school so that they can look at ways of helping you.

Children and young people may be offered alternative provision for a range of reasons. Intervening early to help turn pupils around before they become disengaged from education is a key focus of the work of the service.

Support is provided to schools to ensure appropriate interventions before a pupil arrives at the point where a permanent exclusion is inevitable. The service facilitates and encourages the involvement of the young person in all its work.

The local authority has a statutory duty to provide education for pupils who are permanently excluded from school, from day six of any such exclusion.

The Education Inclusion team fulfils this duty. They work with the school, pupil and family to ensure suitable, full-time education is in place for permanently excluded pupils. This includes co-ordination of multi-agency meetings where appropriate.

Officers work closely with colleagues including school staff, governing bodies, support agencies and alternative education providers to support the individual needs and aspirations of pupils and ensure each young person receives the right support.

The service also facilitates managed transfers and admissions into another mainstream school or alternative provision. They ensure that access to education is secured quickly for children and young people who have no school place.

All personalised learning programmes are carefully planned and strategies implemented. This provides every child or young person with a personalised education plan (PEP). The PEP is tailored to their individual needs and provides a relevant curriculum with clear educational and social outcomes.

The local authority commissions a range of alternative provision and ensures the best quality and value for money for vulnerable children and young people. This includes identifying providers who can adequately meet the needs of children and young people on personalised learning programmes.

The law governing child employment exists to ensure that children are protected and not exploited if they have a part-time job while still of compulsory school age. The Education Inclusion Service is responsible for monitoring this and issuing children with work permits.

Please contact us if you require any guidance. You can assist us by ensuring that your child does not undertake work unless they have a work permit. This is applicable even if they are working for the family business.

Did you know?

Employers should ensure that no child under the age of 14 is employed, except where a child of 13 may be employed in light work such as:

• the delivery of newspapers
• shop work including shelf stacking
• office work
• hairdressing salons

A child cannot work before 7am or after 7pm, whether during school term or school holidays. On a school day and on a Sunday, a child can work a maximum of two hours between these times.

These are some examples of where children are prohibited to work:

• cinemas
• discotheques
• night clubs
• selling or delivering alcohol except in sealed containers
• delivering milk
• telephone sales or canvassing
• slaughterhouses or commercial kitchens

Those who involve children in performances such as:

• theatres
• dance schools (professional or amateur)
• paid sport
• paid modelling

have a legal obligation to apply for a performance or activities licence when one is required.

The licensing system is designed to provide a check that suitable and sufficient arrangements have been made to safeguard the child involved.

The Education Inclusion Service will make the necessary checks and issue a child performance licence if applicable.

A child taking part in:

• a performance
• an activity under a licence
• a rehearsal during the licensing period

must be supervised at all times during the performance, activity or rehearsal by a:

• chaperone that has been approved by the licensing authority
• unless they are under the direct supervision of their parent
• or a person who has parental responsibility for the child
• or their teacher

A chaperone’s first priority is always to the child’s best interest and well-being.

For further information please visit the National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment.

Children and young people who are in the care of the local authority must be the primary focus for the resources and accountability of all agencies because we have accepted a parenting responsibility for them. We collectively provide the support and guidance that would normally be provided by parents.

The Virtual School

The Virtual School Headteacher ensures there are effective arrangements in place to work with a range of professionals who play a role in supporting the education of children in care, previously in care and those with a social worker. We believe that leaders of all agencies can play a crucial role in establishing a culture where every child is able to make progress. Our ambition is to transform the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged by establishing shared priorities to help in driving change for our children
As a Virtual School we collectively monitor school attendance, check the progress and attainment of our children to ensure they have the best opportunities to be successful in their adult lives. We work with the school, carers and social workers to develop a termly personal education plan, to support high aspirations for our looked after children.

All schools must appoint a designated teacher who has the responsibility to promote the educational achievement of children in care and previously in care, including those aged between 16 and 18 who are registered pupils at the school.

For enquiries relating to children in care, please contact the Virtual School Email: laceducation@northlincs.gov.uk or telephone 01724 297502

Bespoke support is available for post 16 children in care, care experienced young people or previously in care (adopted/special guardianship orders).

For enquiries relating to Post 16 children in care, please contact Laura Stamp. Email laura.stamp@northlincs.gov.uk or call 01724 297809

For enquiries relating to care experienced young people or previously in care (adopted/ special guardianship orders), please contact Christine Boulton. Email christine.boulton@northlincs.gov.uk or call 01724 298524.

Education is a fundamental right for every child and we recognise that parents have the right to choose to educate their child at home rather than at school. If a parent chooses to electively home educate their child, they are responsible for ensuring they receive suitable education. Under Section 437(1) of the Education Act 1996, local authorities shall intervene if it appears that parents are not providing a suitable education.

Where a child is registered at a mainstream school, parents must notify the school in writing of their intent to withdraw their child for the purpose of EHE. It is the responsibility of the school to inform the local authority. Once we have received this notification we will post to you the Elective Home Education Policy September 2021 [PDF, 330Kb], together with Elective Home Education Additional Information Jan 2019  [PDF, 608Kb], which you may find beneficial.

We want any home educated child to have a positive experience and feel this is best achieved where parents and the local authorities work together effectively, recognising each other’s rights and responsibilities.

Children Missing Education (CME) are children of compulsory school age who are:

• not registered pupils at a school
• not receiving education otherwise than at school

As a local authority we wish to ensure that all children of compulsory school age are safe and receiving suitable education.

In order to avoid concerns regarding the whereabouts of a child, parents should keep the school well informed if the child is moving to a different area or country, or any other reason which would cause a child to be absent from the school where he/she is registered.

As a parent, please ensure the school has details of the new address and proposed school. If you are moving into the area please contact the North Lincolnshire School Admissions Team or complete an online admissions form, where your application will be processed. Should you require any further advice on this process please do not hesitate to contact us.

Read the Children Missing from Education Policy [PDF, 331Kb].

If you would like to speak to a member of the team to gain advice please contact us on 01724 297502. We are also open during school holidays.

In order to avoid concerns regarding the whereabouts of a child, parents should keep the school well informed if the child is moving to a different area or country, or any other reason which would cause a child to be absent from the school where he/she is registered.

As a parent, please ensure the school has details of the new address and proposed school. If you are moving into the area please contact the North Lincolnshire School Admissions Team or complete an online admissions form, where your application will be processed. Should you require any further advice on this process please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you would like to speak to a member of the team to gain advice please contact us on 01724 297502. We are also open during school holidays.