House Arrest for HE Kids

People at Action for the Rights of Children have recently provided extremely satisfactory evidence of the ineffectiveness of truancy sweeps; but just when it was reasonable to assume that the government might be reviewing this misconceived and expensive failure with a view to abandoning it, ah no: instead they set about tightening the screws and HE kids will almost inevitably, once again, get caught in the cross-fire if we aren't very vigilant right now.

From the commendably provident and politically effective Mike FW:

"A new education act is being planned which would make it illegal for children of compulsory school age to be in a public place during school hours without good reason. This legislation is primarily aimed at excluded children who are perceived as being a public menace but will effect other children such as those being home educated. Home educators can expect problems similar to those experienced with anti-truancy legislation, which has been a nuisance for HE families almost since the day it was introduced."

He goes on to spell out some of the implications:

"Home educated children, particularly those living in cities, may not have private play spaces. Badly worded legislation could make such children prisoners in their homes for many hours a day, not even allowing them the right to play outside during recreation periods between study or time for quiet reflection in public spaces such as parks. "

Am off to check that Education Otherwise and Home Education Advisory Service are up to speed on this one and are representing our feelings to the ptb.