HomeSchooler.org.uk

"Graham Badman's Independent Review of Home Education 2009

Publication of the Badman Report

The Badman Report was published on June 11th 2009. Children's Minister Delyth Morgan accepted the recommendations in full and DCSF immediately launched a further public consultation to run until October 2009.

The Press Notice from the DCSF summarised the main recommendations of the Review as follows:

that local authorities should provide more support to home educating families, eg. through helping provide access to the national examination system, sports facilities, libraries and music tuition;
a compulsory annual registration scheme, in which all parents who plan to home educate have to inform their local authority. While around 20,000 children are already registered, the actual number being home educated is unknown and could be more than double this number;
at the time of registration, parents being asked to submit a statement of their intended approach to the child’s education including what they aim to achieve over the following 12 months;
giving properly trained local authority officials the right of access to the home, following a minimum two week notification to the parents. They will check that the child is making progress against their learning statement. They will also have the right to speak to the child, to ensure they are safe and well. A written report must then be produced and shared with the parents and child; and
that local authorities can refuse registration to home educate if there is clear evidence of safeguarding concerns."... more, including FAQs here...