The Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the rising numbers of children being electively home-educated (EHE) and the significant financial deficit within the council's education services. The committee heard that EHE numbers have increased substantially, placing a strain on resources, and that schools are facing an overall deficit of £9.5 million.

Elective Home Education

The committee received an update on the growing trend of elective home education (EHE) in Carmarthenshire, with 713 learners registered by August 2026. This increase has been attributed to various factors, including parental choice, lifestyle, ideology, and concerns about anxiety, neurodiversity, and unmet Additional Learning Needs (ALN) within schools. Officers highlighted that the current grant funding of £119,000 is insufficient to meet the demand, leading to difficult decisions about resource allocation.

Concerns were raised about potential safeguarding risks where families decline engagement with the local authority. Officers assured the committee that multi-agency arrangements are in place with Children's Services and other agencies to address any safeguarding issues. While the majority of EHE families provide suitable education, the increasing numbers and limited staffing present challenges.

The committee discussed the concentration of EHE referrals in the Llanelli area, particularly among secondary school pupils, and noted that anxiety and unmet ALN are significant factors. The authority plans to use this data to develop targeted interventions. Assurances were given that when learners move out of county, information is shared with the relevant local authority to ensure continuity of support.

Preventative work is underway to reduce the likelihood of children leaving school, including targeted programmes for at-risk learners. The committee was informed that a traditional academic curriculum does not suit all pupils, and vocational and alternative pathways are being developed. The adequacy of Welsh Government funding was questioned, with officers stating it does not fully cover staffing costs or meet the growing demand. The authority is balancing funding between staffing and enrichment activities for EHE learners.

The committee noted that the authority is now capturing data on flexi-schooling, where children attend school part-time and are educated at home for the remainder, following new guidance from Welsh Government. The funding for flexi-schooled children is fully funded by the school.

Revenue Budget Outturn Report 2025/26

The committee reviewed the Revenue Budget Outturn Report for 2025/26, which revealed a total overspend of £7.441 million across the Education, Young People and Welsh Language Scrutiny remit. A significant portion of this overspend, £7.7 million, is attributed to schools' delegated budgets. This, combined with an existing deficit of £1.8 million at the start of the financial year, has resulted in a cumulative deficit of £9.5 million for schools.

Officers described the situation as unsustainable, requiring urgent action at individual school levels to reduce expenditure and rationalise the school estate. While central education services reported an underspend of £280,000, this was offset by overspends in areas such as school meals.

Concerns were raised about the potential use of statutory intervention powers for schools that have not met deficit reduction targets. Officers confirmed that further financial controls and enhanced monitoring may be necessary, particularly for secondary schools. The committee also discussed the impact of vacant posts on safeguarding and attendance, receiving assurances that recruitment is ongoing despite national challenges in attracting Educational Psychologists.

The report highlighted the significant financial pressures on schools, including rising staffing and service costs, and the need for additional national funding, particularly for Additional Learning Needs and wider inclusion challenges. Representations have been made to Welsh Government regarding these funding requirements.

The sustainability of the Music Service was questioned, with officers confirming the authority's commitment to maintaining the service while exploring income generation opportunities. The overspend in the School Meals Service was attributed to staffing issues, sickness absence, and rising operating costs, alongside concerns about the adequacy of Welsh Government funding for free school meals. A review of the catering service's structure and delivery model is underway.

The committee also considered the long-term sustainability of education provision, including the school estate and sixth-form provision. Officers confirmed that strategic work is in progress to develop a future blueprint for education in Carmarthenshire, considering demographic changes and financial pressures. This includes exploring collaboration between schools and reviewing all aspects of provision.

Other Matters

The committee noted an explanation for the non-submission of the Council Annual Report 2025/26, which will be presented at the next meeting. A request was made to incorporate a development session on delegated school budgets into the Forward Work Plan to provide a further update on the financial situation. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 June 2026 were presented for signing as a correct record.