Home education guidance: island communities impact assessment

Step three- consultation

3.1 Who do you need to consult?

To further our understanding of the impact on rural and island communities of the planned updates to the home education guidance, targeted engagement with home education stakeholders and with local authorities in island communities was sought in June 2022. There was a small number of participants in each conversation, however these provided valuable opportunities to focus on factors such as geography and transport which were of particular relevance to rural and island communities.

In addition, a general consultation was carried out which received 98 responses overall. Of these responses, four responses were received from rural and island local authorities. The consultation did not gather information on the location of the respondent, so we are unable to comment on the number of responses received from home educators living in rural or island locations.

3.2 How will you carry out your consultation?

The consultation ran from 22 March 2022 to 31 August 2022 and was hosted on Citizen Space. Responses were submitted on Citizen Space and by email. Further, engagement with key stakeholders was undertaken in parallel.

3.3 What questions will you ask when considering how to address island realities?

Prior to consultation an initial islands impact assessment was undertaken which identified the need for targeted engagement with rural and island communities on the issues raised.

Questions at the targeted engagement workshops included:

• What impact has your location had on your choice to home educate?
• What barriers or enabling factors have you experienced?
• If you have home educated elsewhere, how is this different?

In addition, views were sought on the consultation questions on potential barriers to accessing qualifications, and on how local authorities can best hear the collective and individual voices of home educated learners.

3.4 What information has already been gathered through consultations and what concerns have been raised?

Participants raised the additional costs associated with accessing qualifications from a rural or island location, in the form of transport to a participating presenting centre and accommodation where relevant. This is compounded where multiple qualifications are pursued or where repeated trips fall over a lengthy exam period. Participants also noted the use of online resources and means of communication facilitated home education from a rural or island location, noting that video calling has offered additional opportunities to contact and build relationships.