Overview

This bill mandates that local authorities in England and Wales assess the educational progress of children being home-educated. It requires parents to register their home-educated children and allows for home visits and interviews as part of the assessment process.

Description

Key Provisions

The bill amends the Education Act 1996, introducing a new section (436B) that places a duty on local authorities to assess the educational development of children receiving elective home education. This assessment must happen annually and may include home visits, interviews with the child and parents, and review of the child's work. Parents are required to register their home-educated children and provide information requested for the assessment. The Secretary of State will issue regulations specifying the registration process and assessment methodology, subject to parliamentary approval. Updated guidance for local authorities and parents on elective home education will be issued within one year of the Act's implementation. This updated guidance will emphasize the provision of supervised instruction in reading, writing, and numeracy, tailored to the child's age, abilities, and needs.

Geographic Scope

The bill applies only to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill explicitly states that it does not impose any charge on the people or public funds. The exact cost of implementing the new assessment procedures is not specified in the bill, but will likely involve administrative costs for local authorities.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: Will be responsible for conducting the assessments, incurring administrative costs, and providing advice and information to parents.
• Parents of Home-Educated Children: Will be required to register their children, provide information, and potentially face scrutiny of their home education methods.
• Home-Educated Children: Will undergo annual assessments, which may include home visits and interviews.
• The Secretary of State for Education: Responsible for creating regulations detailing the assessment process and issuing updated guidance.

Powered by nyModel