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Government plans for home-education register criticised

The Government is ‘absolutely committed’ to introducing a register of home-educated children for safeguarding purposes as increased numbers of pupils are removed from school, but this has been met with dismay by a home education specialist.
An increasing number of parents are choosing to home school their children PHOTO Adobe Stock
An increasing number of parents are choosing to home school their children PHOTO Adobe Stock

The number of children being home educated in the UK rose by 75 per cent in the first eight months of the school year, according to recent research by the BBC.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) believes there are around 75,000 home educated children in England while research from home educating charity Education Otherwise (EO) puts the figure at 83,960.  

It is thought that the rise in the number of children being educated from home has risen in response to the pandemic. However, EO figures show this is now plateauing and predicts it is likely to fall. 

Following a recent Education Committee Inquiry which examined the need for ‘accountability’ and ‘monitoring’ of families who notify the local council that they are removing their child from the school register, education secretary Gavin Williamson said that he would create a register of home educated children. He said its introduction would be ‘imminent’. 

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