Moves to strengthen the work of dealing with Powys children who are being educated outside of school have been welcomed by councillors.

But why was the provision virtually unknown before a scathing Estyn report was published?

At a meeting of Powys County Council's Learning and Skills scrutiny committee on Friday, June 5, councillors and independent lay members received a report that explains how education chiefs have been "strengthening" how they deal with children that are receiving "Education Other Than at School" (EOTAS).

This report responds directly to Estyn's February 2025 comments that Powys Council needed "to improve strategic and systematic EOTAS evaluative approaches" to provide education for these children which is "value for money."

Estyn also highlighted the need for oversight and assurance from councillors on this issue.

Improvements in identifying children needing EOTAS have seen numbers go from 15 in February 2025 to 50 by April 2026.

Cllr Gareth E Jones (Powys Independents – Llanelwedd) said that he could see that improvements had been made during the last year, but: "Why did we have to wait for Estyn to tell us this service was not performing as we expected it to?"

Portfolio holder for education, Cllr James Gibson-Watt (Liberal Democrat), said: "I can't ever recall having a discussion about EOTAS pupils in council before.

"Members have never been sighted on this issue in a way they should have been. We need to be more enquiring, and we've not been as attentive as we should have been.

"I'm very glad that we are now."

Director of education Dr Richard Jones said: "The systematic use of detailed evidence and evaluation to lead into precise improvement planning, I don't think has been part of the education services' DNA.

"That's why we find ourselves in this position now – there have been periods in the history of the service where it has improved following adverse inspections."

But these have been short-lived in the past in what has been discussed as a "yo-yo effect".

Dr Jones said: "It has never entered the DNA of the service and that's what's going to change now, and I hope you can see the beginnings of that."

He explained that the information the department has collected will form a "baseline" and from there they can see the results of the work of reintegrating children back into schools as well as patterns from where EOTAS referrals come from and why.

"This is how we'll make sure we are held to account," said Dr Jones.

EOTAS co-ordinator Aysha Waghorn said that the top priority is that young people have "good wellbeing."

Ms Waghorn said: "To do that we have to get the EOTAS provision right if that is what they are accessing.

"We have 86.6 per cent of Year 11 learners who have sat GCSE examinations or accredited qualifications which will support them post-16."

She added that all these youngsters had college entries in place and would be supported by EOTAS to ensure they have a "smooth transition into further education."

All of the Year 11 pupils have an allocated Careers Wales worker to support them beyond their post-16 education.

The committee will receive further updates on how the work is progressing.