Campaign for Home Education

http://freedomforchildrentogrow.org

EO response to consultation on Welfare to Work

Home educators wishing to make their own points to the Committee should send an email to ssac@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.

"We are pleased to note that the Department may be showing more flexibility in regard to mini-jobs under 16 hours a week as noted on p.39 of the memorandum.

However, the Committee will not be surprised to hear that we have the usual grave concerns about benefit conditionality for parents on benefit who are taking sole responsibility for their children's education.

Home educated children are generally not to be found in nurseries and in formal childcare settings. Home educating parents do not categorically rule out the possibility of accessing formal childcare, but the feedback we receive from members is that appropriate flexible responsive childcare which reflects the parents' ethos and belief system and is suitable to the child's age ability aptitude temperament disposition and special needs is not readily available.

We will be asking members for feedback in the pilot areas and will report fully to the Department and to Members of Parliament in the relevant constituencies who are now taking a keen interest in the plight of home educating families. We will also report to the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Home Education.

I have copied this submission to Graham Stuart MP and Lord Lucas, respectively Chair and Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Home Education, who may also wish to speak to the Committee."