Education supervision orders

A local authority may commence proceedings under section 36 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989) where there are concerns that a child is not being properly educated. If such concerns are part of a wider picture of a child who is more generally suffering (or at risk of suffering) significant harm, attributable to a lack of reasonable parental care, or that the child is beyond parental control, it is open to the local authority to commence care or supervision proceedings. However, if the concerns are only educational, for example truancy, the usual first step will be to consider an application for an education supervision order.

See Practice Note: Education supervision orders.