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MP joins condemnation of home-education red tape
PARENTS in Northumberland who educate their children at home could face annual inspections and have to submit detailed teaching plans to the county council, under new legislation being considered.
The Badman Report makes a number of recommendations, such as requiring parents to apply to the local authority annually for permission to home educate, while local authority officers would also have the right to interview children without their parents present.
But the concept has been met with outcry from parents, who have been joined by Sir Alan Beith MP in condemning the proposals.
A petition signed by 42 constituents has now been laid before Parliament by Sir Alan, who is calling for the Government to think again before rushing legislation through.
Rothbury resident Jo Coulter, who educates her child at home, said: “I am absolutely horrified at the thought that in the name of child protection, thousands of children in my country would be subjected to this degree of exposure to strangers, within their own homes. Such treatment I thought was reserved for those suspected of committing a crime.
“Why stop at home-educating families? Why not extend these measures throughout the land to cover all homes?
“After all, if school children only spend around seven hours a day in school, this leaves them out of ‘school protection’ for nearly 17 hours a day on weekdays, 48 hours at the weekend and many more over holidays.
“It is questionable if children are at all safe anywhere, even when they are in school. Bullying is a well-established school problem.”
She added: “Many existing officers do not seem to be at all capable of appreciating the breadth of successful educational scenarios, so the thought of such people being in charge of approving the right to home educate is also of great concern.
“It is deeply offensive that families like mine should be subjected to this degrading treatment. I have not yet met anyone within my constituency who finds it acceptable.”
Sir Alan said: “The Badman Report proposals look like an over-bureaucratic approach when proper use of existing powers by local authorities may be all that is needed. It is important to safe-guard the rights of parents to home-educate their children.”
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: “All children and young people are entitled to a good education. This doesn’t necessarily mean children have to go to school – many parents choose to educate their child at home. Wherever a child is educated, local authorities need to be assured that each child is safe, well and receiving a full time education, suitable to their needs and abilities.
“The safety and well-being of all children is of the utmost importance and where local authorities have concerns about the safety and welfare, or education of a home educated child, effective systems must be in place to deal with those concerns.”
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Weather for Northumberland
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
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