Ellie Ames 15 May 2024

Safeguarding panel calls for register of home-educated children

Safeguarding panel calls for register of home-educated children image
Image: Littlekidmoment / Shutterstock.com

An expert child safeguarding panel has joined calls for a statutory register of children who are electively home educated.

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel looked at 27 incidents involving 41 children whose parents had chosen to educate them at home and who were subjected to sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect in 2020 and 2021.

Six of the children died as a result, including three who took their own lives.

The panel stressed that home education was not in itself a safeguarding risk but said vulnerable children who are educated at home are less visible to safeguarding agencies.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) and England’s children’s commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, have also called for a statutory register of children not in school.

The chair of the ADCS education policy committee, Heather Sandy, said: ‘Education is a fundamental right for all children and we recognise that parents have the right to educate their children at home.

‘However, local authorities must be given the powers to match their responsibilities to assure themselves that children are safe and receiving a good education.’

Dame de Souza said: ‘No child with a social worker whose home is a risk to their safety should be allowed to be home educated.

‘Being in school acts as an additional protective measure, helping them build positive, stable relationships with staff and to be seen regularly by safeguarding professionals.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Product Support Analyst

Essex County Council
£33512 - £39425 per annum + Hybrid Working
*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to work from home while still benefiting from in England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Security Architect

Essex County Council
£60049 - £70645 per annum + Hybrid Working
This is a 12 month fixed term contract or secondment opportunity.*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. E England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Control Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£37602 - £45564 plus shift and weekend allowance
Are you looking for your next opportunity to work as part of a team in a 24-hour emergency control room covering the Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth. To be responsible for receiving and logging calls from the public, outside agencies and partners. Use Wandsworth, London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Senior User Centered Designer

Essex County Council
£60049 - £70645 per annum + Hybrid Working
Interviews will be held on 29th and 30th October 2025.*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the fr England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Network and Communications Lead

Essex County Council
£52621 - £61906 per annum + Hybrid working
Interviews will be held W/C 20th October 2025.*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner