“It is important to remember that the vast majority of home educators are dedicated parents providing the upbringing they feel will most benefit their child. As a result, I can fully understand why many in the homeschooling community are strongly against a register. Some will feel that the education system, which has already let their child down, is now trying to interfere in their family life once again. Others will feel that their religious freedoms are being impinged, although in my experience as a home educating father, very few parents choose to homeschool for purely religious reasons.
“As always, it is how well implemented the system is which will make the difference. Will there be funding and training for local councils to be able to maintain a professionally run support structure for home educating families? Sadly, in the current environment of local authorities cutting back on services, I doubt it.
“However, if well implemented, the promise of being able to access funding to pay for course and exam fees should go some way towards the homeschooling community embracing the register.”
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