HomeSchooler.org.uk

"Thank you for your email raising your concerns over the recommendations
in the Badman Report. Apologies in the delay in getting back to you but
we have been extremely busy.

Liberty is aware of the Review and the recommendations contained within
it. We are concerned about Recommendation 7, which suggests that
designated local authority officers should have a right of access to the
home. The Report contains little explanation of what these home visits
will actually entail and why such an intrusive power is necessary. A
right of access to the home engages Article 8 of the Human Rights Act
1998 - the right to respect for family and private life. Interference
with the right to privacy will only be justified if it can be shown to
be necessary and proportionate in all the circumstances. We await the
Government's full response to the Badman Report which will be published
in September. Any power of access to the home must be tightly regulated
and a full explanation as to the power's necessity should be given.

The Draft Legislative Programme for 2009/10 included the Improving
Schools and Safeguarding Children Bill. This will contain provisions for
the monitoring of home educated children. If, when this Bill is
introduced in Parliament, it includes the recommendation put forward in
the Badman Report for local authority officials to have access to the
home, we will be lobbying parliamentarians on this and our briefings
will be available on our website.

Kind regards

Ellen Berry
Campaigns Assistant"