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| Home school register on hold after parents' backlash | Home school register on hold after parents' backlash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Daniel Davies BBC Wales political reporter | By Daniel Davies BBC Wales political reporter |
| Plans to make the parents of home-schooled children join an official register in Wales have been put on hold following a backlash. | Plans to make the parents of home-schooled children join an official register in Wales have been put on hold following a backlash. |
| Opponents said the Welsh government's proposals amounted to a licensing scheme for home educators. | Opponents said the Welsh government's proposals amounted to a licensing scheme for home educators. |
| Under the plans, parents would have to apply to join the register and would be assessed to see if the environment and education being provided was suitable. | Under the plans, parents would have to apply to join the register and would be assessed to see if the environment and education being provided was suitable. |
| They would also be assessed every year to see if child's needs are being met. | They would also be assessed every year to see if child's needs are being met. |
| Education Minister Leighton Andrews has now removed the idea from forthcoming legislation and civil servants are analysing the responses to a consultation on a draft bill which would have changed the law. | Education Minister Leighton Andrews has now removed the idea from forthcoming legislation and civil servants are analysing the responses to a consultation on a draft bill which would have changed the law. |
| Advocates of home schooling have met AMs and lobbied the Welsh government in their campaign against the plan. | Advocates of home schooling have met AMs and lobbied the Welsh government in their campaign against the plan. |
| Wendy Charles-Warner, of Denbighshire, who taught her children and grandchildren at home, said: "The proposal was sold as keeping a register and a check on home educators. | Wendy Charles-Warner, of Denbighshire, who taught her children and grandchildren at home, said: "The proposal was sold as keeping a register and a check on home educators. |
| "But when you open the packet that isn't what it was. | "But when you open the packet that isn't what it was. |
| "What they were actually proposing was not a registration scheme. It was a licensing scheme." | "What they were actually proposing was not a registration scheme. It was a licensing scheme." |
| Mike Fortune-Wood, who educated his four children at home in north Wales, runs a website and journal dedicated to home schooling. | Mike Fortune-Wood, who educated his four children at home in north Wales, runs a website and journal dedicated to home schooling. |
| He said local council officials did not have the expertise to decide whether children were being taught properly. | He said local council officials did not have the expertise to decide whether children were being taught properly. |
| "You've got to remember a lot of these families are home educators because of serious problems at school," he said. | "You've got to remember a lot of these families are home educators because of serious problems at school," he said. |
| "It (the bill) effectively means the state is responsible for educating the children and parents have to seek permission for what otherwise would have been their responsibility." | "It (the bill) effectively means the state is responsible for educating the children and parents have to seek permission for what otherwise would have been their responsibility." |
| In 2008, a report on the attendance and behaviour of school pupils recommended that the former Welsh assembly government consider legislation to inspect home educators and asses whether children's needs were being met. | In 2008, a report on the attendance and behaviour of school pupils recommended that the former Welsh assembly government consider legislation to inspect home educators and asses whether children's needs were being met. |
| The proposed register was going to be contained in the Education Bill, expected before the summer. | The proposed register was going to be contained in the Education Bill, expected before the summer. |
| However, Mr Andrews announced a change of plan in a written statement to AMs before Christmas following a 12-week consultation which drew more than 550 responses. | However, Mr Andrews announced a change of plan in a written statement to AMs before Christmas following a 12-week consultation which drew more than 550 responses. |
| He said: "I have asked my officials to undertake a thorough analysis of the consultation responses as I want to ensure all views to the proposals are fully considered." | He said: "I have asked my officials to undertake a thorough analysis of the consultation responses as I want to ensure all views to the proposals are fully considered." |
| "Due to the large volume and detail of the responses this is going to take time and is not something I want rushed. | "Due to the large volume and detail of the responses this is going to take time and is not something I want rushed. |
| A spokesman said the bill has not been scrapped, but that the proposal for a register "needs more time". | A spokesman said the bill has not been scrapped, but that the proposal for a register "needs more time". |
| Mr Andrews has promised a further statement on how he will proceed with legislation this assembly term, together with a report summarising the responses to the proposal. |