Homeschooling parents will not have to tell their local authority of actual time spent educating their children, following a major amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. However, other amendments have prompted concern.
The bill, currently at report stage in the House of Lords, originally required parents to state the “actual” amount of time each child spends receiving education from parents and others. Following an agreed amendment, an “estimate of the overall total amount of time” the child receives education will suffice.
Peers also agreed an amendment extending the requirement on local authorities (LAs) to consent to the withdrawal of certain children from school for homeschooling. Under the existing framework, the LA must give consent where the parents want to withdraw children placed in special schools through an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP).
