Home Education

In recent months I have heard from parents across my constituency who feel they have no choice but to home educate their children due to age-inappropriate sex education that exposes infant children to information about adult sexual acts. Does my hon. Friend agree that, as legislators and as parents, we have a duty to protect the innocence of our children, and that this debate should reflect the reasons why parents are choosing to home school their children?

Mr Selous expressed concern about the wide spectrum of home education, from dedicated parents doing a great job to those who are not providing suitable education. He highlighted that local authorities struggle to ensure all children receive an efficient full-time education due to limited powers to assess and intervene in home education settings. He cited statistics showing a significant increase in elective home education numbers in his constituency between 2015-16 and 2020-21, from 283 to 493. Selous raised an intervention regarding parents who are illiterate or innumerate and questioned the Minister's thoughts on whether they can properly home educate their children. I am concerned about illiterate parents home educating their children, as it is unacceptable for the local authority to be unable to verify if a child can read or write when they are not in school. I urge the Minister to clarify how local authorities will know if a child's educational needs are being met under current regulations.

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. In Staffordshire, we saw a large pre-pandemic increase in the number of children being home schooled, and the trend is continuing post pandemic. Of course, many brilliant parents are doing great work in home schooling, but the underlying issue is that we should be concerned about a number of children who are being labelled as home schooled but not actually getting any schooling at all. Is a register not just a proportionate measure that could help to make sure that all children get the type of education we really want, while still protecting the rights of parents to home school their children?

Highlighted concerns about children who are severely absent from school and later found engaged in illegal activities, suggesting these children may be home-schooled. Questioned the adequacy of current support for such families.

Does the hon. Member agree that local councils still have a duty of care to children who are home schooled? Local authorities cannot be left in the dark; there must be a register to assist them to ensure that all children are receiving a good education and being looked after. The delay in legislation for home education is concerning as it leaves vulnerable children at risk of exploitation. I demand that the Government provides a clear timescale for the introduction of necessary legislation to ensure all children receive an adequate education, especially those who are potentially being neglected or abused by their families.

Concerned about local authorities overreaching and invading home-schooling families' privacy. Cited an incident where inspectors used video recorders inappropriately, stressing the need for guidance to prevent such invasions of rights. Asked the government to work with stakeholders to ensure child safety while protecting parents' rights.

Morgan recognised parents' right to choose home education and highlighted concerns about children being educated at home after experiencing safeguarding issues. He cited studies by Ofsted and the Centre for Social Justice, noting that some home-educated children lack access to a suitable quality of education.