HomeSchooler.org.uk

The Lib Dems believe that parents should be allowed and supported to home educate. Home education can provide a fantastic opportunity for many young people. However, the right balance must be achieved between allowing the freedoms which many parents are able to use to give their children the widest possible opportunities in life, and making sure that all children are safe and receiving a well rounded education.

It is also vital that we should be able to ensure that home educated children receive a good quality of education. While this is generally the case, it is important that it should be the case for all home educated pupils-without creating an excessive and damaging degree of bureaucracy and unnecessary interference.

It is not acceptable that the LA almost totally washes its hands of pupils who are being home educated. Many home educators will not want or require support, but, if wanted, assistance should be available, for example to help arrange examinations. We also believe that parents should notify a new local authority if they movce to a new area-there is no such requirement at present.

There are a host of reasons why parents choose to home educate their children and we would want to ensure that the childs safety and interests are put first, and that the childs education is given the priority it deserves.

Don Foster