Written - Children, Schools and Families Bill

The Children Schools and Families Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on Thursday 19th November.        

The Assembly Government has taken the opportunity this Bill presents to seek framework powers that will enable us to drive forward the regulation of home education for those of compulsory school age, and to include the inspection of services provided by local authorities to those persons involved in the provision of education to home-educated children. Subject to the approval of Parliament, the Bill will confer framework powers on the National Assembly for Wales that will enable the Assembly Government to consult and if appropriate, bring forward proposals for legislation to protect the rights of children to receive appropriate education suitable for their needs. An Explanatory Memorandum setting out the background and context to the measure-making powers that we are seeking will be laid before the National Assembly for Wales.   

Following the “Review of Elective Home Education in England” (“the Badman review”) which was carried out at the request of the Secretary of State for the Department of Children, Schools and Families, the Bill will place a statutory duty on local authorities in England to administer a compulsory registration scheme, visit homes of home educated children, inspect services provided to home educating families and collect information on numbers of home educated children from England who are educated in Wales. 

The Badman Review addressed many issues which have been a concern of local authorities and policy officials in Wales for some time.  Some of the recommendations potentially offer opportunities to help secure a suitable standard of home education and, potentially, in a small number of cases, greater protection for children from abuse.  However, it is felt that it would not be appropriate to legislate in this area without carrying out a separate review in Wales, and to consult with all relevant bodies and persons in order to develop a distinctive approach in line with Welsh policy.  Such a consultation exercise has not yet been carried out in Wales. We have therefore asked for a framework power in relation to both the regulation of home-educated children, and the inspection of services provided by local authorities to those persons involved in the provision education to home-educated children.  Those framework powers will allow the National Assembly for Wales to pass a Measure if deemed appropriate, making detailed provision in connection with home education, once that consultation exercise has been completed. 

The Bill and accompanying explanatory notes can be accessed at:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2009-10/childrenschoolsandfamilies.html