Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will bring forward proposals to require all parents to ensure that their children are in full-time education irrespective of whether this is delivered in the home or in a school.

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 already places a duty on the parent of every child of compulsory school age to ensure the child receives a full-time education suitable to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special education needs the child may have either by regular attendance at school or by education otherwise, for example, home education.

In addition the law places a duty on local authorities to make arrangements to identify, as far as it is possible, children of compulsory school age in their area who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at school. It is the duty of the local authority to ensure those children are identified and receive a suitable full-time education.