Committees

Home education to be debated by MPs

22 March 2023

On Monday 27 March, MPs will debate a petition relating to home education.

Nick Fletcher MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. MPs from all parties can take part, and the Government will send a minister to respond.

Do not impose any new requirements on parents who are home educating

The first petition, which has more than 24,000 signatures, states: “The Education Committee has recently recommended introducing a statutory home educated register, and greater assessment of home educated children. These recommendations are in contrast to the views of many parents who home educate.”

In its response to the petition, provided on 20 August 2021, the Government said: “The Government remains committed to a registration system for Children Not in School (CNIS). Further details will be set out in the Government’s upcoming response to its CNIS consultation.”

Do not require parents to register home educated children with local authorities

The second petition, which has more than 11,000 signatures, states: “The Education Committee has recently recommended introducing a statutory home educated register, and greater assessment of home educated children. These recommendations are in contrast to the views of many parents who home educate.”

In its response to the petition, provided on 8 August 2022, the Government said: “The registers will help local authorities support home educating families; identify children not receiving a suitable education, children missing education, and children otherwise at risk of harm.”

Committee survey on home education

To inform the debate, the Petitions Committee ran an online survey to ask petitioners about their experience of home education and their views on the Government’s plans to introduce a statutory register for children not in school. Read the summary of responses to the survey.  

What are petitions debates?

Petitions debates are 'general' debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs will not vote on requirements for home education at the end of the debate.  

Petition debates are scheduled by the Petitions Committee. Only e-petitions started on the parliament petitions site are considered by the Petitions Committee.

Further information

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