News : Watchdog launches probe into home schooling
Tuesday, 6th January 2009
(PR09/0003)
LANCASHIRE County Council watchdogs have launched an investigation into the increasing number of children schooled at home.
Councillors aim to check the authority is doing everything it can to ensure children receive a good education and are being properly looked after.
They are appealing to members of the public with experience of Elective Home Education to contact them with their views.
County Councillor Stephen Large, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny task group on Elective Home Education, said: "Over 450 children in Lancashire receive home schooling. In line with the national picture the number has more than doubled in the last eight years.
"We have a responsibility not only to ensure these children receive a suitable education but that their emotional and social needs are being met."
Children educated at home receive visits from specialist teachers employed by the county council to monitor their progress. Where necessary, the teachers offer advice to parents to improve the quality of education or explore opportunities to enrol the child in school.
The task group will look into a number of challenges facing the county council.
These include pressure on resources to visit the rising number of children schooled at home, as well as the need to support parents at the same time as ensuring all children receive a good education.
There is also uncertainty about the duty to provide a 'good education'. While children schooled at home don't have to follow the national curriculum the government has not set an alternative standard for parents to meet.
One of the task group's main concerns is that no law guarantees teachers access to a child being taught at home to check on their welfare, or even gives them right of access to the family home.
County Councillor Large added: "While some parents feel their children will receive a better education at home, others choose to take their children out of school for medical reasons or because the child refuses to attend.
"We need to make sure we are doing as much as we can to ensure parents who educate their children at home feel able to return their children to school if they want to and receive all the support they need.
"I would encourage people who have experience of Elective Home Education to write to us with their views so that we can reflect them in our recommendations to the council."
Councillors will receive evidence from teachers who carry out home visits and may 'shadow' them to learn more about home education.
There are around 467 children receiving Elective Home Education in Lancashire, which represents 0.3 per cent of the total 165,000 school population.
If you would like to send your views to the task group please write to Beverley Reid, Overview and Scrutiny, 2nd Floor Christ Church Precinct, P.O.Box 78, Fishergate, County Hall, Preston, PR1 8XJ or email scrutiny@lancashire.gov.uk by the end of January 2009.