HomeSchooler.org.uk

The government's proposals to licence, regulate and inspect families who educate their children at home have provoked furious opposition from home-educating parents and their children. The government has been keen to brush off concerns that its proposed legislation will violate the civil liberties of these families, in particular their right to private and family life. As details of the government's plans emerge, these attempts to portray the scheme as "light touch" look increasingly less credible.

If passed into law, the proposals in the children, schools and families bill will require local authority officials to make annual visits to the place where education is provided (normally the family home). Officials will be empowered to request to interview a child on their own if they consider it appropriate. Parents may refuse the authority's request, as Ed Balls has been at pains to point out, but such refusal will form one of seven grounds on which the local authority may decide to revoke its approval and impose a school attendance order....