Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond’s parliamentary bill to ensure home schooled children are registered comes back to the House of Commons next week for its second reading.
The Children Not in School (Registers, Support and Orders) Private Members Bill has cross-party support and Flick is seeking government support for it too.
The legislation proposes a duty on local authorities in England to maintain registers of children of compulsory school age who are not educated full-time at schools, as well as a duty on local authorities to provide support to home educating families, should they request it.
It does nothing to infringe on parents’ right to home school their children.
Since the pandemic more children than ever are being home schooled. Around 81,000 are known to local authorities but the actual figure is very likely to be much higher - hence the need for the register.
“Local authorities have expressed concerns that not all children educated at home are being educated properly or having their needs met and I share those concerns,” said Flick.
“Of course, many children are properly home schooled but I’m afraid it would be naive to think it is all of them and we need to know who they are to ensure they are safe and getting the education they need.
“Research tells us that children who are moved out of school are disproportionately likely to be from a low-income household, need SEN support and have a history of school absence and exclusions.
“What is alarming is government, local authorities and schools cannot honestly answer the question: how many children are missing from school? That is not acceptable.
“However, my Bill will improve this situation and I hope the government is going to support it following some positive feedback from ministers.”
The Bill – also backed by local authorities - will be before the House of Commons on Friday 15th March.
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