Government urged to toughen up home education plans

The government’s plans to introduce a compulsory register for home-educated children risk failing children’s safety unless councils are given the powers to enter a premises to check on a child’s schooling.

The warning, made by the Local Government Association, comes as the Department for Education has rejected councils’ pleas to have greater oversight over home schooled children, following a consultation over proposals for a register.

Council leaders have long-called for a home education register but is now warning that the current plans do not go far enough in protecting children and making sure they get a high-quality education. Therefore, it is urging the government to rethink its proposals and grant councils the funding and powers to be able to enter homes or premises where a child is being home-schooled and speak to them.

In some cases, children who are said to be home-schooled are in fact attending illegal schools which can be in dangerous settings or offering unsuitable education. Ofsted estimates there are at least 6,000 children being educated in such schools, which evade inspections that ensure the safety and quality of education for children.

While councils fully support the rights of parents to choose to home educate their child, and recognise that most home-schooling parents are doing an excellent job, there remain concerns for a minority of children who could be at risk of neglect or poor future prospects.

Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said: “The LGA has long-called for a register of children not in school as this will help councils make sure children are getting a good education and prevent them from disappearing from the oversight of services designed to keep them safe.

“We know that most children get a good education at home and fully support parents' rights to home-educate their children. But there is a minority of cases where home-schooled children are not receiving a suitable education or being educated in a safe environment. Those children have got to be our priority. It is good the government is introducing a register but this risks failing to protect children unless it goes further. It needs to toughen up its plans and give councils the powers and appropriate funding to enter homes or other premises to speak to children and check their schooling.

“Councils are keen to support families to make sure children get the best possible education, wherever they receive this. However, with children’s services facing a £3.1 billion funding gap by 2025, it is vital that any additional responsibilities for councils are properly funded.”

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services says that there are an estimated 57,873 home-educated children across 152 local authorities in England.