Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

 Written evidence submitted by Cally Cook to The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Committee (CWSB10).

1. I am submitting evidence as I home educate my three children and feel this would greatly affect myself as well as all home educators.

2. Firstly, I would like to raise the point that there I no need for a register as LA’s already have a register for home educated children. The proposed register does not include children missing education, so will do nothing to protect those children.

Children deregistered from school are known to the LA. The LA can make enquiries about the education provided and can serve an SAO if they feel the education is unsuitable. They can also refer to children’s services if they believe there is a safeguarding concern.

The proposed register requires an unattainable amount of information as most in home education do not follow a timetable approach to learning and this is the kind of information the register would want. This would in effect ban styles of learning that most home educators use.

Section 24 8(b) this can be dangerous for situations where the parents are separated due to abuse etc.

436C part 1

The details required from home educators is excessive.

a) & b) the LA already have this information passed to them from the school.

d) hours not measurable as home education is flexible. This suggests that learning only takes place when being taught and formal learning only.

e) would not be possible as there would be far too much detail to provide. Many groups/activities would cease to continue.

Part 2 (k) Secretary of State can amend the register without further parliamentary scrutiny or families being able to address it?

Part 3 Local Authorities should not be given the opportunity to add in their own criteria. They already misuse their duty and this would caused severe overstepping. It should be uniform for all LA’s.

436D

2(a) the LA should not be able to ask for information whenever they want. This needs to be limited or some may ask far too often.

b) unrealistic to expect home educators to let the LA know every time they go to a new group or use a different website etc.

436E

1 (a) (b) plus 3 (a) (b)

This information would lead to groups not accepting home educators. Would home educating group visits to museums be included in this? This is too vague.

Not all groups know a child is home educated as it is not required information for afterschool groups.

31A

The whole section is reliant on a parent giving extensive information that most will not be able to provide. This will result in fines and imprisonment for wanting to provide an education suitable for their child.

436H

5 (c) why are the Local Authority able to decide what is in the best interest of the child.

436I

2 (a) (c) this will be misused to force home visits. The home should be the child’s safe space so this is concerning.

How can this be legal - only someone with a warrant can enter the home.

Would the visitor have training of any sort?

I hope this can be of help.

Cally Cook