Parents fear schools bill 'will strip away freedoms'

Oxfordshire parents and home education campaigners have said they are deeply concerned a new government bill will erode their rights.

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce wide-ranging changes, including a register of children in England who are not currently attending school, as well as increased powers for councils.

But parents have told the BBC they believe they should be free to choose the best educational options for their children.

The Department for Education said it supported parents' right to home educate when the education was "suitable" and "in the child's best interests".

The bill has cleared the House of Commons and has had its second reading in the House of Lords.

It would give local authorities the power to require school attendance if the home is deemed an unsafe environment.

Parents would also have the automatic right to home educate their children withdrawn if their child is subject to a child protection investigation or under a child protection plan.

The government said the reforms were needed to protect thousands of vulnerable children.

But Emily Thompson from Bicester, who home educates all five of her children, said it felt like "the first step towards eradicating home education".

"I think it will strip away the freedoms that home educators have and it will force us to conform to national curriculum standards," she said.

"I don't think that's of any benefit to parents or children."

Aime Miles from Kingham, a campaigner with Home Education Alliance, said the bill was causing huge concern for families who believe local authorities could force their children to attend school.

She told the BBC that while some families choose to home educate for philosophical reasons, many opt to do it as a last resort, after being let down by the system.

"There are an awful lot of families who say they feel terrified, some are crippled with anxiety over this," she said.

"It's becoming a very horrible situation where we distrust parents to parent.

"What we should be doing is supporting them in whatever decision they've made for the benefit of their child."

Ellie Pirrie from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the bill should not negatively impact home educating families.

"It's about upholding parents' rights to home educate but also about balancing that with the existing duties of local authorities," she said adding that for the vast majority of families "nothing should change".

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We want children to have the best life chances no matter the education setting.

"That's why the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce new measures to help local authorities in their role ensuring all children receive a suitable education."

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