Lancashire investigates rise in home-educated children

Concerns were raised after a report showed that the amount of home-educated children in Lancashire has doubled in the past eight years, to over 450. An investigation will now be carried out by the Overview and Scrutiny task group for Elective Home Education,  to ensure that home-schooled children are receiving a good education, while assessing the level of access the council have to these children in order to check on their welfare.

The council currently employs specialist teachers in an attempt to contact home-educated families, but councillor Stephen Large, chair of the group, said: "There is currently no law guaranteeing teachers access to home educated children and it is a concern. As a task group we want to look at that."

Fiona Nicholson, chair of leading alternative education charity Education Otherwise, welcomes the opportunity for more dialogue between home educators and local authorities. But she believes that families who choose to home educate do not need to be regulated by local authorities.

"It would restrict parental choice and put a legal liability on local authorities to produce outcomes. At the moment home education remains the responsibility of the parent," she said.

Lancashire council is inviting members of the public with experience in home education, and teachers who have been on visits to come forward with their views. The group will draw its conclusions towards the end of March.

To contribute, email: scrutiny@lancashire.gov.uk