Voice: the union for education professionals

Voice welcomes home education review

Thursday, 11 June 2009 12:00 AM

Voice: the union for education professionals has welcomed news that the review of home education in England is recommending a national registration scheme for home educators and the right for local authorities to visit children taught at home - moves called for by the union's general secretary.

Giving his views on home education, General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "It is vital that all children receive appropriate and high quality education, whether that is in school or at home.

"There should be a duty on parents to identify where their children are being educated through some form of registration. Without that, local authorities cannot be expected to fulfil their duty to 'make arrangements to enable them to establish (so far as it is possible to do so) the identities of children residing in their area who are not receiving a suitable education'? If the authorities don't know where the children are, how can they establish if they are being educated suitably?

"I also believe that inspections by the local education authority should be compulsory, and parents should have to present the child and his or her work.

"There are many home educators who do an excellent job, but parents who are using the label of 'home education' to disguise absence of any form of structured education are those who give cause for concern.

"I am concerned about preventing abuses of the system where children slip through the net and end up not being educated at home or at school. Home education must not be misused as a cover for no education.

"However, many home educators are doing an excellent job, should be supported and should have no fears about regulation requiring them to register as home educators."

Notes

Home education page: http://www.voicetheunion.org.uk/homeeducation

Contact: Voice Press Office (pressoffice@voicetheunion.org.uk) on 01332 372 337 or 0794 871 0413.

Disclaimer: Press releases published on this page are from key opinion formers who promote their organisation's activities by subscribing to a campaign site within politics.co.uk. politics.co.uk does not endorse, edit, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases are wholly the responsibility of the originating company or organisation.

Home Office welcomes police improvement

Govt publishes latest Police Performance Assessments

The government insists police performance across England and Wales is improving, despite concerns about paperwork.

MoD welcomes home submarine rescue team

Armed forces minister Adam Ingram today met the Royal Navy team that rescued seven Russian crewmen trapped in a sunken submarine at the weekend.

Home Office to review cold cases

Extra funding will allow thousands of old cases to be reviewed.

The government is to review thousands of unsolved crimes as part of ongoing efforts to solve 'cold cases'.

Home Office puts extradition review in motion

Theresa May has outlined the review into Britain's extradition arrangements

The terms of reference for a Home Office review into how Britain deals with extraditing individuals to foreign countries have been set, Theresa May has confirmed.

Home Office launches review of offender tagging

The Home Office has been forced to launch a review into the ways offenders are tagged and tracked after an undercover investigation found hundreds were going unmonitored.

Spending review: Home Office cut by 23%

The Home Office will see cuts of 23% in total by 2015, as will the Ministry Of Justice.

Education

Whenever a debate on public services kicks off, it won't be long before Scandinavia comes up as an example.

Doctors voice reform concerns

Doctors are unimpressed by Gordon Brown's proposed NHS reforms

Doctors have voiced concern about the government's proposals to boost the NHS' emphasis on "preventative" healthcare.

Without a vote, but not without a voice

Teenagers are being urged to add their face to support the campaign and their favourite party

Without a vote, but not without a voice

Victims' families to get voice

A new scheme to allow families of murder and manslaughter victims to have their own say in court proceedings has today been highlighted by the lord chancellor.

Opinion Formers

Press Releases

VoicetheUnion: Chief Inspector on ego trip to prove how tough he is

VoicetheUnion: JUAC backs parliamentary group’s asbestos action report

Ofsted scrapping 'satisfactory' in school inspections "unsatisfactory"

Teachers will fear new bullies’ manual

Gove wakes up to importance of computer science

Voice comments on Ofsted’s plans for no-notice inspection for schools

VoicetheUnion: Group calls for Government to abandon plans to transfer health and safety to school governors

VoicetheUnion: We have reached a position that is worth serious consideration by our executive national council

Voice comments on Autumn Statement – a slap in the face for public servants

Voice advises growing membership ahead of 30 November strike

Twitter

Join the conversation at #opinion_formers

Related Opinion Former Press Releases

Voice welcomes Bew Review

Voice: the union for education professionals has broadly welcomed the Review of Key Stage 2 testing, assessment and accountability published today.

Voice welcomes home education review

Voice comments on education spending report

Voice: the union for education professionals has commented on the report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that has found that public spending on education in the UK is set to fall at the “fastest rate since at least the1950s”.

Special event coverage

Festival of Social Sciences: Celebrating the Social Sciences

Evidence-based policy should not be a radical concept. It needs to be celebrated.

Festival of Social Sciences: 2 languages: 2 brains, 2 minds, 2 cultures?

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, the Deafness Cognition And Language Research Centre (DCAL) hosted an event exploring the powerful benefits of bilingualism in spoken and sign languages, for hearing and deaf people alike - benefits that reach hearing and deaf people alike.

Opinion Former Events

20

22

07

22

30

27

NHF: Leaders’ Forum and Exhibition 2012

This flagship event is a forum for chief executives and chairs of the housing sector to network with each other and learn from a range of high-profile and inspirational speakers from media, political and housing backgrounds. It takes place in Park Plaza Victoria, London.

TACT: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): how to support affected children

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an incurable lifelong condition arising from brain damage caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The effects may include physical, mental, behavioural and learning disabilities. However, if diagnosed, the right strategies can transform the lives of those affected. This new Guardian Social Care Network half-day seminar in association with TACT Fostering and Adoption will explain the condition and show what can be done to help.

bpas: Abortion in the US: Popularity, Politics and Practice

We often hear of the ‘Americanisation’ of abortion politics in the UK, but unpicking the substantive threats to women’s reproductive rights in the US can be a challenge. The 2012 bpas public lecture will explore the current state of abortion politics in the US and, at a time when abortion appears increasingly politicised in the UK, reflect on what lessons can be drawn by those keen to protect women’s reproductive autonomy elsewhere.

Cogent SSC: UK Nuclear Skills Awards - 22nd March 2012

The UK Nuclear Awards is steadily becoming an anticipated annual event in the Nuclear calendar. The National Skills Academy for Nuclear and Cogent Sector Skills Council are preparing to hold their fourth collaborative Skills Awards Evening for the industry.

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition and Conference

This one-day event is targeted at professionals operating in the information destruction industry, and aims at keeping delegates updated on recent developments in their sector, providing an opportunity to network with fellow professionals, whilst offering access to an informative exhibition and a comprehensive conference programme.

Take the Gold Challenge for St Dunstan's

We provide lifelong support for blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women. You can help give more blind heroes an independent future by taking the Gold Challenge