This page is for comments and policy statements from national political parties on home education and any issues you feel are directly related to home education such as consultations, actions of the ruling party in government, reviews etc. 

contents:

Labour Party:

The Labour party we know about - it is the labour party from whom we are under attack starting from the statement from Lord Adonis in 2007 that "the state does not currently prescribe what form of education parents should provide," but that other provisions are "prescribed in legislation and subject to inspection," that home education is therefore an "anomaly is at odds with Every Child Matters reforms," which set out the Government's aims "for all children, regardless of where they are educated"  and other statements about the national curriculum being the gold standard of education and that the government believes the best place for a child is in school, a child not in school is a child not learning etc etc ..... 

UKIP PARTY POLICY - ELECTIVE HOME EDUCATION

home education.rtf 25/02/2009 18:11

Freedom must extend to Education

UK Independence Party Statement on Home Education

UKIP Press Release on the Badman Review Report on Home Education: 

There is a growing attempt by the Government to marginalise and to attack those who choose entirely legally, to educate their children at home. UKIP strongly endorses the right of parents to offer Elective Home Education

The 1996 Education act states quite clearly:

The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive

efficient full-time education suitable:

1. to his age, ability and aptitude, and

2. to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at

school or otherwise.

The UK Independence Party in 2007 stated that it is fully behind the principle of Elective Home Education:

"We will nonetheless guarantee that those wishing to educate their children at home will still have this option available to them".

This was our position and remains so. UKIP utterly opposes attempts by the Government and state funded charities like the NSPCC to demonise Home Schooling. Home Education is a choice and one that should be supported.

Attempts to bring Elective Home Education under the authority of local government should be opposed wherever they are found.

The Every Child Matters Program of the Government is a scheme by which the Government, under spurious grounds, wishes to take control of those who elect to educate their children at home. It must not be allowed to do this.

To that end UKIP will work to:

1) Ensure that parents remain responsible for the upbringing and education of their

children within or without formal schooling.

2) Fight against current and proposed policies and legislation which may affect the

rights and freedoms of families who choose home education.

3) Support the right to fair and equal treatment for those who choose independent,

elective home based learning for their children.

~~~

Lib-Dem (prospective candidate) says ...

I’m backing Home Educators

Written by Gavin Webb, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate on 21 June, 2009 – 10:59 pm -

I tweeted my disgust about Graham Badman’s report last Sunday and have thought that I really must blog something on this matter.  I don’t really need to spend too much time expressing my views because they are very clear for all to understand.

In short, Graham Badman, the Labour Government and any do-gooder bureaucrat who believes they have any right to interfere in the private affairs of individuals and family should just back off. 

(read more) .... see below ...

unfortunately: http://www.libdemvoice.org/gavin-webb-quits-lib-dems-joins-libertarian

However: for the second reading of the CSFBill Lib Dems put forward an amendment asking the house not to allow the second reading partly because it undermines the freedoms of home educators; they think that something is necessary but the current bill goes too far. They are in favour of a register or notification requirement.  The amendment failed by 211 votes to 288.

Wording of the amendment:

"Mr Nick Clegg

~~~~~

On Behalf of David Cameron (Conservatives.)

To a  concerned home educator:

"I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for your e-mail.

I am very sorry for the long delay in this reply. As you might understand, David Cameron has received an unusually large number of e-mails recently, and I am afraid it has taken longer than normal to reply to everyone.

We find it incredible that the Government held yet another consultation on the issue of home education. This is now the fourth consultation in as many years; with the latest guidelines, prior to the Badman Report, having only been issued in 2007.

The Shadow Education team have raised a number of concerns about the latest consultation, most notably that the Department for Children, Schools and Families tried to imply that home education was being used as a cover for child abuse. We find this offensive to those parents who often have to make a very difficult decision about withdrawing their child from school.

We believe it is essential that every child in this country receives a first-class education and one that is suitable to their needs. To achieve that, parents should have the right to choose the education system that best serves their child and home schooling should be included in this choice. Parents, who make that choice, should be entitled to the same presumption of innocence and competence that school going children’s parents receive, unless evidence dictates otherwise.

The proposals made in the Badman Review are now being put to a consultation by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which will close on 19 October. Given the strength of feeling that you have about this issue, I would recommend responding to the consultation which can be found at www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations.

Thank you, once again, for writing.

Yours sincerely,

Lara Moreno Perez

Office of the Leader of the Opposition

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA"

~~~~~

Libertarian Party  

Supports home education. See official Statement on the CSFBill on their page.