We are in the age of information, data tracking is everywhere, from your supermarket shopping to where you travel regularly, to the way you spend your time. 

Since Covid struck, thousands more families have chosen to home educate their children - some because they saw their children or family life was significantly better off, more relaxed, engaged with learning, some because of poor SEND support in most mainstream schools, some because their child was so at risk from safeguarding concerns - both physical and mental, that they needed to bring them home to protect them.

Our government currently seem hell bent on conformity, a 'standardised mediocrity' of curriculum, attendance and testing in schools, with their claims that our British schools are some of the best in the world, producing the best outcomes...when we are also experiencing high levels of youth unemployment, disillusionment and lethargy as our young people must jump through higher and higher academic hoops and see absolutely none of the benefit it gave earlier generations. 

The government want to crack down on what they refer to as ghost children, 'not in school' insinuating that they are not receiving an education, that parents are guilty until proven innocent of not providing a suitable education or opportunity for their children in home-learning or alternative provision placements. They want oversight, they want to be in control.

The people who want to have the authority to say whether it is good enough or suitable? The same as those we have opted to remove our children from the influence of. The same as those who believe academia, testing and curriculum are the gold standard. The same as those who punish children for not conforming and expect only the highest standards even when struggling. The same who fine parents who dare to spend any time at all living a real life with their families learning in experiential ways. 

There is a reason we have fought back on 'not in school' registers, data collected about us as families, about how our children are receiving an education. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill still needs fighting, educate your MP's. If you don't yet fully understand why this is so important, then please read on and I will do my best to explain it. 

First of all - lets ask the question of why they want this register in the first place?

An official 'Children Not in School Register' is being promoted as a child welfare measure, one to make sure they know where every child is. In short, every child born is registered at birth and as such, should be trackable if the government connected all their databases and as such, could reassure them that these children are well and accounted for.

The reality is, it stems from the same fears as the attendance propaganda. Our government are refusing to acknowledge that there are very good reasons why so many are now choosing home education, as it has boomed in recent years both here and overseas. The register's purpose is to regain some educational control over parents choosing to abandon use of mainstream schools. Simply, it is easier for a government to track academic achievement inside school walls - even if its one size fits all experiment is quickly unravelling - a blog for a different time. Their lack of oversight on these children is whipping up a fear response from our primarily schooled (even often unhappily) society and prejudice/fear that 'no school = no future' and 'children not in school = being failed or abused' - a prejudiced fear that is easy to diminish if we actually spend some time with the community, but most won't. 

This register will go no way to assuage those fears, it is simply a grab for control, meaning chances are, further control will follow. 

1. Loss of Autonomy for Parents

• Increased Oversight: This register will almost definitely lead to more government oversight into the education choices of families as they realise that a register alone does not assuage these concerns and will lead to more questions being asked of families.
• Standardization Pressure: Families may feel pressured to conform to mainstream education standards, even if those don't align with their child’s learning style or needs. This is a particular grievance for many home ed families, who understand that learning is not limited to set subjects - and with a whole wealth of subjects, directions and skills to explore out there, why is a set curriculum a measure of ability in the first place? Who does that serve? Certainly not our children's, or this country's economy and innovation.

2. Misunderstanding of Home Education

• One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Authorities will never fully understand or appreciate diverse home education methods, this register will not reassure them that those children are receiving an education they decide is good enough, leading to a potential push for rigid curriculums or assessments that don't reflect the home education philosophy.
• Judgment of Success: Parents who choose to home educate often want to free their children from the life-sucking experience of comparison and educational competition, they want them learning for joy and purpose, passion and direction - not to tick a box or get a grade. Home Education cannot be judged based on metrics like test scores alone.

3. Potential for Misuse or Discrimination

• Discrimination Against SEND Families: Families with children who have special educational needs (SEND) may face increased scrutiny if they don’t meet conventional standards, even if their child is thriving in a non-traditional setup. SEND families who have often had to remove their children from mainstream education because it isn't able to support them and has even traumatised their response to education through unrealistic expectations on behaviour and conformity.
• Marginalized Communities: Minority groups or those with alternative lifestyles could face bias or unfair treatment, as their educational choices might be viewed with suspicion. In a society that has been raised to compete and compare, judgement is rife and whether its race, disability, age or otherwise - we know for a fact that authorities have applied their own opinions, judgement and discrimination in dealings with the home education community as recently as well...today. 

4. Impact on Mental Well-being

• Stress for Parents: The obligation to register, report progress and endlessly fear further measures coming into place will create stress and anxiety for parents, especially those already navigating challenges like SEND or societal stigma. Their job is to educate and care for their family, not to have their time taken up attempting to reassure external parties.

5. Risk of Overreach

• Scope Creep: The concept of a slippery slope is being ignored by most MP's we write to, with the 'those who aren't doing anything wrong have nothing to fear' line that lights a fire in most home educators blood. A register might start as a simple list - one accessed by countless government organisations, institutions and who knows who else - a significant security risk, but could devolve our rights back into mandatory inspections, assessments, or requirements that undermine the flexibility and intention of home education.
• Erosion of Trust: When our government demonstrates a lack of trust in us as parents, it is only normal that we will feel distrustful of the government’s intentions, especially if the register is perceived as a way to monitor or control rather than support. We have to remember how hard every generation has fought since democracy began, to eradicate laws that benefitted the governing body above the individual person. We are human first, British citizens second. Not everything needs an authority over it.

6. Administrative Burden

• Resource Allocation: The government might direct resources toward managing the register rather than providing meaningful support to home-educating families, equally directing funds in this direction supports a minority of children who are likely being safeguarded and educated well as opposed to the thousands of children being failed in schools due to safeguarding concerns, SEND and lack of resources. 

7. Chilling Effect on Home Education

• Discouragement: The perceived risks and increased regulation will discourage families from choosing home education, (an easy assumption that this is part of the agenda behind the 'crack down') even if it’s the best option for their children and their families. An option that might see that child avoid suicide, abuse or unrealistic expectations that currently block their joy in learning. 
• Fear of Non-Compliance: Families may worry about unintentionally falling afoul of regulations, leading to punitive measures. There is no doubt that refusing to register, providing evidence of education and otherwise not meeting a local authorities expectations will lead to criminalisation of parents, fines, school attendance orders and even prison sentences.

8. Data Security Concerns

• Privacy Risks: Storing information about children and families in a centralized register raises concerns about data breaches or misuse of sensitive information. This is especially important if you consider all the data they are hoping to collect about where our children receive education in alternative provisions, and even more importantly families who are at risk from abusive relationships. This list will need to be available to all local authorities and what other institutions? How many people will be able to access this data?
• Tracking and Stigma: Families may worry about being unfairly labelled or flagged for choosing alternative education methods and what impact this might have for children attending higher education, jobs and other opportunities.

Summary

In short, we have to assume that the government are not considering these things, that they are not aware of the risks and affects this will have on families, their freedoms and the opportunities for their children as there is significant cross party support for getting back some control over children they deem to be 'missing in education'.

Home Education is not illegal, it is as valid as a mainstream school education and yet the prejudice and fear shown towards it demonstrates that our government view their lack of oversight over it a safeguarding risk.

Home education is, in most cases, an empowering family belief system that emphasises individual skill and interests contributing to a wider community, life long learning, compassion, critical thinking and the simple act of learning as its foundation. Those who have children and go on to abuse them will not be stopped by this register, it won't even go any way to knowing if they do. 

Home Education does not need any authority but that of the child in question and I dare any government official to ask any home educated child whether they actually want the measures they want to put into place.