Staff from Cheshire East Council have received awards for their support to children who are educated out of school.

The 'Kit' awards, presented by the charity Education Otherwise, are based on nominations from families who home educate their children.

They recognise and celebrate education officers who enjoy good relationships with home educating families in their area and whose support is positive, legal and well informed.

Education Otherwise is a charity which provides support and information for families whose children are being educated outside school, and for those who wish to uphold the freedom of families to take direct responsibility for the education of their children.

Across Cheshire East there are currently more than 500 pupils who are educated at home.

The council, along with other local authority areas, are seeing these numbers increase due to anxieties around Covid, such as risk of infection and exposure risks for vulnerable family members.

Councillor Kathryn Flavell, lead member for children and families at Cheshire East Council, said: "Our priority is to work together with families to ensure children and young people have an enjoyable education that supports them to achieve their full potential.

"I am delighted to hear that our education team has been presented with their very first 'Kit' awards for excellence when working with and supporting families who have decided to home educate.

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"I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all the families who have played their part by sharing their many experiences and supporting this quality mark award.

"We know that in our last Ofsted report, inspectors found that we had well-embedded systems for tracking, assessing and safeguarding children missing education and those electively home educated.

"These awards demonstrate our progress in developing relationships with parents within the electively home educated community."