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The number of children being home-educated in England has risen by 20% this year, according to the most recent government figures.<\/p>\n
The Department for Education says knowledge of where children are will enable councils to ensure a high-quality education is being provided, and to deliver the necessary support.<\/p>\n
The Local Government Association, which represents councils, has asked for the new register to come with additional powers.<\/p>\n
“[The register] must be combined with powers for councils to meet face-to-face with children, which is vital to allow councils to ensure children are receiving a suitable education in a safe environment,” said councillor Arooj Shah, chair of the Children and Young People Board.<\/p>\n
But not everyone agrees with plans for a register. <\/p>\n
“International research is clear that introducing registers for home-educated children makes no positive difference whatsoever to those children’s outcomes, and leads to fewer being known to public bodies,” Wendy Charles-Warner, chair of home education charity Education Otherwise, told the BBC. <\/p>\n
“Promises of support have been made for about fifteen years now and have yet to materialise. <\/p>\n
“Over 100,000 children are already registered with local authorities as home-educated, new legislation is not needed to offer those families requested support,” she added. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There have been several attempts to introduce a register over the last decade by successive governments, but all have failed. <\/p>\n
Phillipson told the BBC’s Breakfast programme she was worried about the “big increase” in home-schooling.<\/p>\n
“I respect the rights of parents to seek to home-educate their children,” she said. <\/p>\n
“My concern is that some parents are choosing to opt out of the system because they feel their children’s needs are not being met. <\/p>\n
“We face some really big and stark attendance challenges.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Education Policy Institute warned that up to 300,000 children may be missing from education entirely.<\/p>\n
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said she had “called on successive governments to introduce a unique identifying number for children and a register of all children not in school”.<\/p>\n
“Writing these two landmark measures into law will be of huge significance for any child currently at risk of harm in this country.<\/p>\n
“It must now be supported by proper data-sharing between organisations so no child can become invisible in the system.”<\/p>\n
The general secretary at the school leaders’ union NAHT, Paul Whiteman, also welcomed the bill, saying they had “long called for a register of pupils who are not in school” and “it is very positive to see that this important safeguarding measure is finally being taken, after years of delay”. <\/p>\n
The register is expected to come into force in 2025.<\/p>\n
First unveiled in the King’s Speech, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is wide-ranging in its proposals, including free breakfast clubs in all primary schools and legislation to limit branded uniform items.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Get in touch<\/h2>\n\n
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Do you home educate your children? Share your experience. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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