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<p>The government supports the right of parents to educate their children at home.
The department knows that many who do so are very committed and educate their children
well, sometimes in difficult circumstances.</p><p>However, this government is committed
to ensuring local authorities ensure all of these children are in receipt of suitable
education.</p><p>The government is committed to legislating for statutory registers.
Thanks to my honourable friend, the member for Meon Valley, for her work on her Children
Not in School (Registers, Support and Orders) Bill, which the department is supporting
as it progresses through Parliament.</p><p>The bill will introduce statutory, local
authority-maintained registers of children not in school and help local authorities
undertake their existing duties to ensure all children receive a suitable education
and are safe, regardless of where they are educated.</p><p>It is important to note
that elective home education in itself is not considered an inherent safeguarding
risk. Most parents who take up the weighty responsibility of home education do a great
job, and many children benefit from being educated at home. It is the government’s
view that, when used correctly and in line with guidance, local authorities have sufficient
existing powers to investigate and take action in cases where there is concern for
the welfare of any child, including those who are educated at home. The department
therefore does not have any plans to introduce regular mandatory welfare checks for
these children.</p>
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