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| Home teaching truancy scam claim | Home teaching truancy scam claim |
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| Some local authorities are trying to cut their truancy rates by urging parents of persistent truants to say they will home educate, it is claimed. | Some local authorities are trying to cut their truancy rates by urging parents of persistent truants to say they will home educate, it is claimed. |
| Home education charity Education Otherwise says parents of truants and disruptive pupils are being urged to sign pre-typed de-registration slips. | Home education charity Education Otherwise says parents of truants and disruptive pupils are being urged to sign pre-typed de-registration slips. |
| It says the practice gives home educators a bad name and plans to take evidence of it to education ministers. | It says the practice gives home educators a bad name and plans to take evidence of it to education ministers. |
| New figures show England's secondary school truancy rates are rising. | New figures show England's secondary school truancy rates are rising. |
| They are handing out pre-typed de-registration letters saying sign your "X" here at the bottom and you will be left alone Ann NewsteadEducation Otherwise | They are handing out pre-typed de-registration letters saying sign your "X" here at the bottom and you will be left alone Ann NewsteadEducation Otherwise |
| Data released on Thursday revealed that truancy rates are 18% higher than had been thought after a new way of counting absences was adopted. | Data released on Thursday revealed that truancy rates are 18% higher than had been thought after a new way of counting absences was adopted. |
| Education Otherwise spokeswoman Ann Newstead said she knew of at least two local authorities who were encouraging home education amongst troubled families in order to improve truancy figures. | Education Otherwise spokeswoman Ann Newstead said she knew of at least two local authorities who were encouraging home education amongst troubled families in order to improve truancy figures. |
| She declined to name them. She said the practice was particularly common in areas with large populations of travellers - who, in the official statistics, have the highest rates of truancy. | She declined to name them. She said the practice was particularly common in areas with large populations of travellers - who, in the official statistics, have the highest rates of truancy. |
| "They are handing out pre-typed de-registration letters saying sign your X here at the bottom and you will be left alone," she said. | "They are handing out pre-typed de-registration letters saying sign your X here at the bottom and you will be left alone," she said. |
| "This sort of thing isn't good for the majority of parents who do the right thing. | "This sort of thing isn't good for the majority of parents who do the right thing. |
| "It is these sorts of situations that lead people to be prejudiced about home education. | "It is these sorts of situations that lead people to be prejudiced about home education. |
| "There is a problem but it is between schools and local authorities - it is not our problem." | "There is a problem but it is between schools and local authorities - it is not our problem." |
| 'Attendance orders' | 'Attendance orders' |
| By law, parents of children who are already in school can opt to educate them at home once they have informed the head teacher. | By law, parents of children who are already in school can opt to educate them at home once they have informed the head teacher. |
| Home education is lawful as long as parents provide the child with an education deemed to be suitable to their age. | Home education is lawful as long as parents provide the child with an education deemed to be suitable to their age. |
| They are not required to provide any particular type of education, obliged to have premises equipped to any particular standard or have any specific qualifications. | They are not required to provide any particular type of education, obliged to have premises equipped to any particular standard or have any specific qualifications. |
| Home education inspectors employed by the local authority are supposed to liaise with parents about the education of a child - but they do not have any legal right to visit the home. | Home education inspectors employed by the local authority are supposed to liaise with parents about the education of a child - but they do not have any legal right to visit the home. |
| However, education welfare officers can intervene if they suspect something untoward is going on, school attendance orders can be issued and court proceedings started. | However, education welfare officers can intervene if they suspect something untoward is going on, school attendance orders can be issued and court proceedings started. |
| Stress-free | Stress-free |
| Parents can be fined up to £1,000 for allowing their children to truant. | Parents can be fined up to £1,000 for allowing their children to truant. |
| A report in the Times Educational Supplement claims as many as 35,000 home educated children do not receive even a basic education from parents. | A report in the Times Educational Supplement claims as many as 35,000 home educated children do not receive even a basic education from parents. |
| It quotes home education inspectors who are concerned that some families are using home schooling as an excuse to evade problems with bullying, poor attendance or disruptive behaviour. | It quotes home education inspectors who are concerned that some families are using home schooling as an excuse to evade problems with bullying, poor attendance or disruptive behaviour. |
| The inspectors claimed that up to a quarter of home educated children are provided with nothing by their parents. | The inspectors claimed that up to a quarter of home educated children are provided with nothing by their parents. |
| The Department for Education and Skills has been considering proposals to change the way home-schooling is regulated. | The Department for Education and Skills has been considering proposals to change the way home-schooling is regulated. |
| Home educators say their children benefit from the intensive one-to-one teaching that parents can provide and that children do not face the same stresses that school pupils. | Home educators say their children benefit from the intensive one-to-one teaching that parents can provide and that children do not face the same stresses that school pupils. |
| Do you know of truants being urged to drop out of formal schooling? Has this happened to you? Let us know: | |