On 10th April 2018, the Department for Education (DfE) published draft Guidance for Home Education for LAs and Parents for consultation:

https://consult.education.gov.uk/school-frameworks/home-education-call-for-evidence-and-revised-dfe-a/

These draft Guidance documents were written following significant consultation with Local Authorities and no consultation whatsoever with the home education community, to whom it is presented as a fait accompli.

The subsequent consultation is consequently for little more than show as an intention to implement the content has already been stated.

These Guidance documents seek to encourage Local Authorities to breach the ECHR Article 8 and the GDPR.

They provide no accessible means for a parent to address disproportionate, unreasonable or ultra vires behaviour by their Local Authority, where many of those authorities already act routinely in such ways.

They are oppressive and encourage the use of draconian measures to control and fetter the civil liberties of a minority section of society.

They are divisive and will lead to segregation of communities by treating home educating families as lesser than their peers.

They undermine the rights of children and the duties of their parents.

The petitioners therefore request the DfE to withdraw the draft Guidance documents and the procedure of or results from the related Call for Evidence until:

1. it has put in place an accessible and workable complaints procedure and

2. it has consulted with home educating parents, as it has with Local Authorities, as to what the contents should include.