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<p>The government’s aim is to ensure all young people receive world-class education
which allows them to reach their potential and live a more fulfilled life, regardless
of background. That education should be provided in a safe environment, whether at
school or at home.</p><p>Parents have a right to educate their children at home, and
the government wants the many parents who do it well to be supported. Most parents
who take up the weighty responsibility of home education do a very good job, and many
children benefit from being educated at home.</p><p>However, others are deemed to
be ‘home educated’ but, in reality, such education as they get is mainly or entirely
through attendance at unsuitable settings such as unregistered independent schools
or multiple part-time settings. There is also likely to be a number of children for
whom the education being provided is unsuitable, because their parents cannot educate
them effectively at home, or the children are simply not being educated.</p><p>In
the spring of 2019, a consultation was held on proposals for a mandatory register
of children not attending state or registered independent schools to help local authorities
carry out their responsibilities in relation to children not in school. The consultation
closed in June 2019. Responses to the consultation have been considered and a formal
government response document setting out the next steps is expected later this year.</p><p>Any
education setting which provides full-time provision to 5 or more pupils of compulsory
school age (or one or more pupils of compulsory school age who is looked after or
has an education, health, and care plan) is required to register with the Department
for Education as a school. It is a criminal offence to conduct an independent school
that is not registered.</p><p>The current definition of full-time education does not
capture settings which offer only a narrow curriculum even if this teaching takes
place throughout all, or most, of the school day. The department consulted on proposals
last year to change the definition of independent schools in primary legislation to
incorporate such settings. We are currently considering responses to this consultation
and will confirm further steps in due course.</p><p>The Department for Education and
Ofsted are continuing to investigate any settings where intelligence or evidence suggest
the operation of an unregistered school.</p><p> </p>
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