Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to use police to visit the homes of home-schooled children who have not been in contact with public services for a set amount of time.

There are no such plans. If there are concerns about the safety or well-being of a child who is being educated at home, local authorities already have a range of powers available under the Children Act 1989 (The Act), which allow them to seek a court order to access a family home. The Act includes provision for the police to remove a child to suitable accommodation where there is reasonable cause to believe that a child would otherwise be likely to suffer significant harm. The police can also provide assistance to local authority staff in an emergency. These powers apply for any child, whether educated at home or at school, but only where a child is in need of emergency protection.

The government published on 10 April a call for evidence about elective home education, and also began a consultation on revised guidance for local authorities and parents. This closes on 2 July.