17. MCC Processes - Safeguarding
17.1 The LA, in partnership with other agencies, including Social Care and Health, has a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children resident in the city under Section 175 (1) of the Education Act 2002 and under the statutory guidance ‘Working Together’, December 2020.
17.2 LA officers follow the agreed Manchester Safeguarding Partnership’s (MSP) procedures at all times and work with partner agencies to proactively safeguard and promote the welfare of all home educated children.
17.3 In the event of any concerns, in line with MSP procedures, LA officers will discuss them with parents (provided that this does not pose an increased risk to the child) and signpost/link the family into sources of support, including the Early Help Hubs.
17.4 If the concerns appear to present an immediate and serious risk of harm to the child, LA officers will discuss with the Advice and Guidance Service, which may lead to an assessment by Social Care.
17.5 LA officers do not have an automatic right to access the home to discuss home education. However, under the safeguarding duties held by the LA and our commitment to the UNCRC, it is helpful if the EHE Team officer is able to talk with both the parent and the child and ideally see the home, as this is usually the main venue where education is taking place.
17.6 EHE may not be considered suitable if this is refused and if there is any reasonable cause for concern. See Appendices for MSP’s Multi-agency Levels of Need and Response Framework’. This includes ‘Parents are inappropriately or intermittently engaged with their child’s education and lack awareness of their responsibilities’ as one of the criteria.
17.7 In most cases if a child is on either a Child Protection (CP) or Child in Need (CiN) Plan, the LA would not expect home education to be suitable. However, both the child’s and the parent’s views will be considered and advice sought from Social Care before any decision is made.