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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
RESOLVED that: 7.1 A development session on school delegated budgets be incorporated into the Committee’s Forward Work Plan 2026/27. 7.2 The list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting on 13 October 2026 be noted.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor P. Hughes-Griffiths.
There were no declarations of personal interest including any party whips.
The Chair advised that 3 public questions had been received.
“Question 1 - Regardless of the fact that Welsh Government guidance outlines, 'when parents choose to home educate their children, they assume full responsibility for providing and funding their child's education' - we are aware that Carmarthenshire LEA receive funding from Welsh Government to assist with this. This has been apparent with Maths, English, Welsh and Science lessons being funded by the LEA in Carmarthen and Saron for the past few years. However, this year a lot of this funding has been cut with very short notice and home educated children have been left without certain lessons. I would like to know what the factors were that led to the LEA making this decision, and whether the results of the Home Education Feedback form, sent out to all home ed families in Carmarthenshire, was considered when making this decision?” Response provided by the Education, Young People and Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee: “The Local Authority recognises the value that funded learning opportunities have provided for home educated children and young people in Carmarthenshire and appreciates the contribution of providers and families. The decision to review the funded offer for 2026/27 was taken following consideration of the available Elective Home Education grant funding, the number of learners accessing support and the need to ensure that funding is distributed as fairly and effectively as possible across the wider home educating population. Welsh Government guidance makes clear that, whilst Local Authorities receive grant funding which can be used to provide additional support to home educating families, parents who elect to home educate remain responsible for securing and funding their child’s education. The guidance also allows Local Authorities flexibility to determine how grant funding is used locally to meet identified needs. When reviewing the offer, officers considered several factors including: • The total grant funding available. • The increasing number of electively home educated learners. • The need to balance support across the county. • The range of support options permitted under Welsh Government guidance. • The sustainability of continuing previous arrangements. As a result of that review, funding was retained for a number of learning opportunities in Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llanelli, including Welsh language, Mathematics, English, Science, Art and physical activity provision. The feedback received from home educating families was one of a number of sources of information considered by officers. In particular, feedback relating to learning opportunities, wellbeing, social interaction and community provision has been valuable in helping the Authority understand the views of families and inform future planning”.
“Question 2 - Does Carmarthenshire LEA have any policies and practices in relation to home education? Are they reviewed and are home-educating parents and children involved in the review process (as stated in Welsh Government guidance)?” Response provided by the Education, Young People and Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee: “Carmarthenshire operates its Elective Home Education service in accordance with Welsh Government statutory guidance and maintains local procedures and practices covering areas such as registration, annual engagement, safeguarding, grant funding arrangements and support available to home educating families. These arrangements are supported by information published on the Council’s Elective Home Education webpages and through direct engagement with families. The Authority regularly reviews its procedures and practices to ensure continued compliance with Welsh Government guidance and emerging national developments. Officers from Carmarthenshire actively participate in national Elective Home Education networks and forums coordinated with Welsh Government and other Local Authorities, which helps ensure local practice reflects national expectations and developing guidance. Feedback from families is gathered through ongoing engagement, correspondence, consultations and surveys, and this information helps inform future developments to the service. The Authority remains committed to strengthening those engagement arrangements wherever possible”.
“Question 3 - Welsh Government guidance for elective home education, point 6.3 states that 'Welsh Government has worked with local authorities to agree a wider package of support, which will afford consistency of offer from local authorities to home educating families and their children.' How is Carmarthenshire LEA ensuring that there is consistency in the support they have offered in previous years, for example, the lessons that have been cut?” Response provided by the Education, Young People and Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee: “Carmarthenshire aims to ensure a consistent approach to supporting Elective Home Education (EHE) families while recognising that individual needs and educational approaches vary. Welsh Government funding is limited and must be used to support a growing number of EHE learners across the county. As a result, the Authority must balance available resources carefully to ensure funding is distributed fairly, sustainably and in a way that benefits the widest possible range of children and young people. Whilst some previously funded activities have reduced, grant funding continues to support educational opportunities, enrichment activities, family advice and guidance, and the capacity of the dedicated EHE service. Welsh Government guidance deliberately allows local authorities flexibility in how funding is allocated according to local need and priorities. Consistency is achieved through a dedicated EHE team, regular engagement with families, assessment of educational provision against statutory expectations, access to information and guidance and ongoing participation in national EHE networks. Funding arrangements are reviewed annually to ensure they remain equitable, sustainable and aligned with the needs of Carmarthenshire's EHE community”.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received.
The Committee received for consideration an update on Elective Home Education (EHE) within Carmarthenshire, whereby the parents had chosen to withdraw their children of statutory school age from the formal school system and assume full responsibility for their education. In accordance with the statutory obligations enshrined within The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, the Authority had a responsibility to monitor EHE learners and undertake annual educational reviews. The Committee reviewed the emerging trends, statutory duties, safeguarding arrangements, learner support, and the measures being implemented to ensure that children and young people receiving EHE had access to suitable educational opportunities. In considering the current position within the county, the Committee noted the following data recorded within the 2025/2626 academic year: • A total of 713 EHE learners were recorded within the county. • 381 new registrations were submitted and a total of 166 learners either returned to school or moved out of county. • 30 learners were supported to sit 198 GCSE examination entries, funded by the Authority. • The £119,000 grant had to support a growing cohort and therefore the funding received by the Authority was insufficient. • A high number of referrals were concentrated within the Llanelli area, particularly within Years 7, 9 and 10. • Anxiety, neurodiversity and unmet Additional Learning Needs (ALN) were emerging as important factors. Officers responded to the queries and observations raised by the Committee. The main matters were as follows: • Members expressed concern regarding the potential safeguarding risks associated with EHE, particularly where families had declined engagement with the Local Authority. Officers advised that strong multi-agency arrangements were in place between Education Services, Children's Services and partner agencies, with concerns routinely shared and escalated where appropriate. It was emphasised that the majority of EHE families provided suitable education and support to their children, however it was acknowledged that non-engagement could present a risk to the Authority. • In response to queries raised regarding communication with EHE families, an assurance was provided that whilst statutory duties required an annual review, additional visits, follow-up reviews and support was provided where deemed appropriate. It was acknowledged that engagement remained a challenge, exacerbated by the increasing number of learners and the limited staffing/funding available, however the Authority continued to make every effort to establish and maintain contact with families. • A discussion ensued regarding the increase in EHE across Carmarthenshire. Officers reported that the west Wales region had the highest number of EHE learners in the country and explained that the reasons given by families included lifestyle choices, parental ideology, anxiety, unmet additional learning needs, neurodiversity and dissatisfaction with the curriculum and aspects of school provision. Officers advised that improved data collection had enabled more detailed analysis and had identified patterns relating to anxiety among certain groups of learners, particularly secondary-aged girls within the Llanelli area. Members were informed that the Authority intended to use this information to develop targeted interventions rather than adopting a uniform approach across the county. In response to comments made, Officers noted that further investment in EHE support within the Llanelli area could be explored as part of the Transforming Tyshia regeneration project via the Local Growth Fund. • Members sought assurances regarding learners residing outside the county boundary. Officers confirmed that information was shared routinely between Local Authorities and that responsibility for support transferred appropriately to the learner's home authority, ensuring continuity of monitoring and support. In response to a query, it was agreed that a breakdown of the 166 learners who had returned to school or moved out of county would be circulated to the Committee. • In response to queries raised, Officers outlined preventative work being undertaken to reduce the likelihood of children leaving school. The Committee was informed that targeted programmes were being delivered in schools to support identified groups of learners at risk of disengagement and that early evidence demonstrated positive outcomes in improving attendance. In terms of the suitability of the curriculum, it was reported that a traditional academic pathway did not meet the needs of all pupils and officers outlined examples of developing vocational and alternative pathways, including junior apprenticeship programmes designed to improve engagement and retain learners within education. • Concerns were raised regarding the adequacy of Welsh Government funding. Officers advised that grant funding was linked to learner numbers, however this did not reflect the scale of demand or fully meet staffing costs. At present, the Authority utilises its limited funding between staffing costs and the provision of educational enrichment opportunities for home-educated learners. It was noted that there is differing utilisation of funding across other Authorities. The Committee was informed that the service was becoming increasingly stretched as numbers continued to rise. • Information was sought on Welsh-medium provision within the home-education community. Officers advised that while detailed data was not currently collected, annual reviews could be conducted through the medium of Welsh and Welsh-language learning opportunities continued to be promoted. It was reported that participation in Welsh-language classes had been positive. • A question was raised regarding examination outcomes for EHE learners. Officers advised that performance information was only available where families chose to share results, although examples of strong academic achievement had been recorded. • The Committee acknowledged that that EHE was a legitimate parental choice but expressed concern about the continued growth in learner numbers and the impact on school funding and inclusion services. Officers reported that the increasing prevalence of EHE reflected wider national challenges relating to anxiety, neurodiversity, inclusion, attendance and learner wellbeing and highlighted the need for continued partnership working and greater investment to meet increasing demand. • The Committee commended officers for their sterling work in supporting families, safeguarding learners and facilitating returns to school where appropriate. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received.
The Committee considered the Revenue Budget Outturn Report 2025/26 in respect of the services falling within the Education, Young People and Welsh Language Scrutiny remit. Appendix A to the report showed a £7,441k overspend at year end against its approved budget. Appendices B and C detailed the main variances on the agreed budgets. A significant underspend within Education and Psychology Services was attributed to additional grant funding and delays in implementing a new staffing structure and recruitment processes. The end of year financial position for schools was set out at Appendix D to the report and showed that schools collectively overspent by £7.7 million during the year. As school balances had commenced the year with a deficit of £1.8 million, the year-end position resulted in a cumulative deficit balance of £9.5 million. The position remained unsustainable and continued to require urgent action at an individual school level to reduce resourcing levels to bring expenditure in line with available budgets, as well as progress in rationalising the schools’ footprint, to achieve a more sustainable system overall. Appendix E outlined progress against planned efficiencies, with officers reporting that all service efficiency targets had been achieved during the year. No savings had been applied to delegated school budgets during 2025/26, other than the Rising 4s policy adjustment, which had a positive impact on school finances. Officers responded to the queries and observations raised by the Committee. The main matters were as follows: • Members raised concerns regarding the unsustainable position of school deficits and sought clarification on the potential use of statutory intervention powers to address the issue. Officers advised that schools were continuing to receive financial support and challenge from the Authority but acknowledged that further financial controls may need to be considered for those who had not achieved the required efficiencies. This could include enhanced monitoring, greater scrutiny of recruitment decisions and more formal intervention arrangements. It was emphasised that rapid improvement was required, particularly within secondary schools due to their budgetary allocations and deficit positions. • Concerns were expressed regarding the impact of vacant posts within the budget for school safeguarding and attendance. Officers provided an assurance that safeguarding arrangements had not been adversely affected and confirmed that recruitment activity was ongoing, despite national challenges in recruiting Educational Psychologists. • Members highlighted the significant financial pressures facing schools, including increasing staffing and service costs. Officers agreed that additional funding was required nationally to address growing demands, particularly in relation to Additional Learning Needs and inclusion services. Strong representations had been made to Welsh Government by the Welsh Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Education in Wales. • A question was raised regarding the future sustainability of the Music Service. Officers advised that previously identified savings had been removed from future budgets and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to maintaining the service while exploring opportunities to generate additional income. • Members sought information on the measures being taken to address the overspend within the School Meals Service. The overspend reflected a range of factors, including staffing costs, workforce pressures, sickness absence and rising operating costs. In addition, there were ongoing concerns regarding the extent to which Welsh Government funding and unit meal rates fully reflect the costs of providing Free School Meals, especially given the geographical challenges whereby the provision of school meals within rural areas generated increased costs to the Authority. It was confirmed that a review of the service structure and delivery model was underway and that a report would be provided to the Committee in due course. • Members queried the long-term sustainability of education provision within the context of school budgets, the school estate and sixth-form provision. Officers confirmed that strategic work was underway to consider the future shape of education provision in response to demographic changes and financial pressures. Opportunities in respect of collaboration would also be explored to ensure a more sustainable footprint provision for the future. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
The Committee received an explanation for the non-submission of the following scrutiny report(s): • Council Annual Report 2025/26 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 7.1 A development session on school delegated budgets be incorporated into the Committee’s Forward Work Plan 2026/27. 7.2 The list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting on 13 October 2026 be noted.
The Committee received a list of forthcoming items to be considered at its next meeting to be held on the 13th October 2026. A request was made for a development session to be held to provide an update regarding delegated school budgets and the action undertaken by the Authority to address the current situation. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 7.1 A development session on school delegated budgets be incorporated into the Committee’s Forward Work Plan 2026/27. 7.2 The list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting on 13 October 2026 be noted.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 June 2026 be signed as a correct record.
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