The Education & Skills Service Transformation Committee of Swansea Council is scheduled to consider a review of the Home Tuition Service and the committee's work plan. The meeting will also involve the noting of minutes from a previous session.

Review of Home Tuition Service

A significant item on the agenda is the proposed Target Operating Model for the Home Tuition Service and Outreach Services. This model has been developed through the next phase of a review that began with a report considered by the committee on 15 July 2026. The current report aims to provide an update on actions arising from that earlier review and to present the proposed three-strand Target Operating Model for Home Tuition and Outreach Services. The committee is being asked to consider that this proposed model be taken forward for detailed discussion at the next working group, which will include further consideration of service specifications, referral and threshold arrangements, workforce requirements, governance, and financial modelling.

The review has identified that the Home Tuition Service currently supports a broad range of vulnerable learners, including those with medical and health-related needs, Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) provision, learner engagement outreach, and support for Children Looked After. During the 2025-2026 academic year, the service supported 98 learners in September 2025, with a peak caseload of 139. A total of 170 referrals were received between September 2025 and July 2026. The service has been noted for its personalised and flexible provision, holistic support, skilled staff, and strong relationships with learners and families. However, challenges have been identified concerning demand and capacity, staffing pressures, clarity of referrals and thresholds, curriculum and examination arrangements, and financial pressures.

The proposed Target Operating Model aims to separate the service's functions into three defined strands:

• Medical Tuition Outreach Service: This strand would provide specialist educational support for learners unable to attend school due to physical health, medical, or mental health-related needs.
• Outreach Teaching Service: This strand would offer outreach teaching and interim education for learners requiring EOTAS or transition arrangements to EOTAS.
• Learner Engagement and Children Looked After Learning Coaches: This strand would focus on providing intensive engagement and transition support for vulnerable learners, including Children Looked After, those at risk of exclusion, and those requiring reintegration support.

The report states that this is not intended as a cost-saving exercise, and staffing numbers are anticipated to remain at least the same. Further detailed work is required before any implementation, including developing service specifications, clear referral routes, governance arrangements, workforce requirements, and financial modelling. The committee is being asked to note the proposed model and consider that it proceeds to the next working group for detailed discussion.

Work Plan

The committee is also scheduled to review its Work Plan for the 2026-2027 period. The report outlines planned agenda items for future meetings, including discussions on the Review of Home Tuition Service, Vocational Learning & Opportunities, and School Inclusion. The current meeting's Work Plan report is presented by Councillor Mike Durke, Chair of the Education & Skills Service Transformation Committee.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, at 4.00 pm in the Lilian Hopkin Room at the Guildhall and via MS Teams. Councillor Mike Durke is the Chair of the committee. The committee membership includes Councillors B Hopkins, O G James, Y V Jardine, L R Jones, S Pritchard, and T M White. The meeting can be watched online at http://tiny.cc/EducationSTC4-11.