Overview

This bill mandates that local authorities in England and Wales assess the educational progress of children being home-educated. It aims to ensure that children educated at home receive a suitable standard of education, while also providing support and guidance to parents.

Description

The bill amends the Education Act 1996 to introduce a new duty for local authorities. This duty requires them to:

• Assess the educational development of each home-educated child in their area annually.
• Provide advice and information to parents who request it.
• Establish a registration process for parents of home-educated children.

Assessments may include home visits, interviews with the child and parents, and review of the child's work. The Secretary of State will specify the assessment methodology and registration process via statutory instrument, subject to parliamentary approval. The Secretary of State must also update guidance for local authorities and parents within one year of the bill’s enactment, considering the importance of reading, writing, and numeracy instruction, as well as the views of children and parents involved in home education. A public consultation may also be undertaken.

Government Spending

The bill explicitly states that it will not impose any new charges on the public or vary any existing charges. The financial implications will depend on the resources allocated by local authorities to fulfil their new assessment duties. No specific figures are provided within the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: Will be responsible for assessing home-educated children, providing advice, and managing the registration process, increasing their workload and potentially their spending.
• Parents of Home-Educated Children: Will be required to register their children and cooperate with the assessments. They may receive additional support and guidance but also face increased scrutiny of their home education practices.
• Home-Educated Children: Will be subject to annual assessments, potentially impacting their learning experience depending on how the assessments are conducted.

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