Local authorities have a duty in law to ensure all children in their area receive a suitable education, but they say their powers are limited.
Illegal schools can often have links to extremism or be housed in dangerous buildings, according to the Local Government Association (LGA), which is calling for the changes.
The LGA wants councils to have the power to enter homes and other premises to check the suitability of the education being delivered. Currently, they can only enter premises if there are specific concerns about a child’s safety.
The LGA also wants parents to be compelled to register home-educated children and would like to see a clearer definition of a “school” so that it is easier to classify and close down illegal schools when they are discovered.
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday
Already have an account? Sign in here