Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many school children are educated at home; and how they ensure that a high quality of education is maintained for those pupils.

The Department for Education does not collect data on numbers of children educated at home.

The Department's published guidance for local authorities on elective home education makes it clear that, although the primary responsibility for a child's education rests with the parents, local authorities also have responsibilities in relation to home education. These include identifying children not receiving a suitable education as defined in section 7 of the Education Act 1996. The guidance makes clear that although local authorities have power to require parents to provide information about the education which home educated children are receiving, this is a process best conducted informally and should not amount to routine monitoring. If a local authority concludes that the education provided is not suitable, it has power to serve a school attendance order.