NO
ANN NEWSTEAD, TRUSTEE AND SPOKESPERSON, EDUCATION OTHERWISE
Home schooling is already regulated. When you take a child out of school to be taught at home, there are lengthy and complicated procedures to go through, which involve welfare visits. The problem for the home-schooling sector is that regulation and local authority support is available, but how councils adhere to this is patchy. Help is to be welcomed, but there is no case for greater regulation, such as more visits and spot checks.
YES
COLIN GREEN, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL, AND SAFEGUARDING SPOKESMAN, ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES
The Association of Directors of Children's Services welcomes the government's review of home education. Children educated at home do not benefit from the safeguards that come with being in school. The vast majority are well cared for and educated. However, a minority are not. Local authorities' ability to safeguard and support those children is severely constrained by current guidance and regulation. While home-educated children may not be at greater risk of abuse, they are at greater risk of any abuse not being identified and action then not being taken to protect the children.
NO
MARTIN JOHNSON, DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY, ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS AND LECTURERS (ATL)
ATL believes schools are the best place for a rounded education - including social education. So we are sceptical about the comparative qualities of education at home.
However, it is a bit totalitarian to harass the tiny number of parents who are committed to home education. Many put their hearts and souls into it, and we have to ask ourselves whether we want a society that prevents adults from making sound judgements, and sometimes mistakes, about their lives and those of their children. I don't think we have enough evidence that home-educated children's lives are blighted.
YES
VIJAY PATEL, POLICY ADVISER, NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
We are supporting the review because, in our view, there are inconsistencies. It is too early to say if more regulation is required. We'd hope that the review and its recommendations lead to improvements so parents feel they are supported and that our concerns are addressed.
