Strengthening Home Education: Government Response to the Committee's Third Report

This is the government's response, published 26 October 2021.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government supports parents' right to home educate and "remains committed" to a form of registration for children not in school, but declines or only considers further several of the Committee's other recommendations.

• On registration, the Government "remains committed to a form of local authority administered statutory registration"; further details will be in its response to the Children Not In School consultation, "published in the coming months".
• On a centralised definition of 'suitable' education, the Department "remains of the view" that this would not be in the interests of home educating children, families or local authorities, though it "may be an area the Department considers further" at its next guidance review.
• On an independent SEND coordinating role, the Government states: "We therefore do not consider it necessary to create an additional role in this area."
• On longitudinal research into EHE outcomes, the Department "can see the value" but notes challenges, and "will review potential approaches again" after the consultation response is published.

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