“The Badman review was one of the most poorly prepared reports that I have ever seen. The review itself asserts that the number of home educators in the United Kingdom is unknown, but then goes on to create statistics which imply that more home educators are known to social services then children who attend state schools. The government refuses to release the results of the consultation because the vast majority of respondents voiced opposition to the proposals. Who in their right mind thinks that the government should be able to come into their homes and interview their children alone when there are no allegations or suspicions? Crazy!!! Big brother has arrived Britain! Beware, because your next!”

“The powers that are being asked for already exist. The only difference is that currently they require Local Authorities to have evidence or reasonable suspicion of a problem to use them.

By the government's own (skewed) figures, this legislation may help 80 children (0.4% of the home educated children not known to the authorities - the 80 known are obviously already being 'helped'). It will cost on average nearly a million pounds for each one of those children each year to carry out this licensing and monitoring regime - again by their own figures which are, many say, underestimated. All evidence from studies in this country, Canada, the USA, Australia, and around the world is that the majority of home educated children are happier, better socialised, and often better performing academically than their schooled peers because they are allowed to learn and grow at their own pace, as a part of their own community, in areas and ways which would not be possible in school. Of the few children who are let down by their home education, there is no evidence that any of them remain undetected by social services. That is, those 80 children the DCSF want to help quite probably don't exist.

By contrast the lives of at least 40,000 children will be badly affected. They will have school-based curricula held up as a model for what they should be learning instead of the very personalised curriculum they currently follow. They will have an annual 8 hour inspection and two 4 hour inspections to assess their performance (schools are inspected by Ofsted every 5 years). They will know that the inspector will be able to send them back to school, which many escaped from with mental, emotional or even physical scars, and they will be able to do this for any reason - this is made explicit in the recommendations and legislation, that it is up to the inspector's discretion whether the child be allowed to remain educated at home.

And above all, the lawful responsibility of the parent to ensure that their child receives an education will be usurped by the new and unlawful duty of the Local Authority to do the same.

There are no reasons why this legislation should go through and many reasons why it absolutely must not.”

“"Schools are inspected and if a child is educated at home then that is their "school" and should operate under the same regulations. Unless of course these parents have something to hide" said Huggy Bear (possibly just for effect).

Do you realise that in some areas you now have to be CRB checked to go into your child's school? Or to help walk some kids to a school carol service?

Do you know that, if you have children, health and safety inspectors now have a right to enter your home without your permission to check it is safe, to carry out modifications as they see fit, and to remove your children if you decline their improvements?

Do you understand that if you disagree with the opinion of a doctor, teacher or other state employee about their view of your child's needs, in some places you run a real risk of Social Services taking your child into care?

Have you not heard that if you live in some Local Authority areas your neighbours may have CCTV cameras installed to keep watch on you for Social Services to ensure you are not abusing your kids and that the kids themselves are behaving properly?

Didn't you read that some Local Authorities are taking children from their parents because they disagree with how the children are being fed? In one case, because they would not give the child sweets and burgers to fatten them up?

In my own area the lady who organises the local mums and toddlers group, and has done for the last 15 years, has to leave the building when the session starts each week because she hasn't been CRB checked (and cannot currently afford to be).

Wake up. Please.

Take a look at the real world and what is happening to it. Your "I'm alright Jack" attitude is so selfish. Your view of "nothing to hide, nothing to fear" shows a fundamental ignorance of history.

This is not a game. This is not a soap opera. This is not some spun news story for you to look at in your detached way and then forget because it doesn't affect you. This is real. These are people's lives. They deserve to be listened to because those who are trying to control them are already turning their sights on you and yours they *will* find you wanting.”

“Diana Johnson really does talk a load of rubbish! 'Support'? I can see licensing, the local authority being able to force children into school against their own and their parents' wishes and the invasion of our private family homes but I don't see any support in the CSF Bill. As for the pathetic carrots she's offering, school libraries? What is this, the 19th Century? Music lessons? Get real, home educators already have a massive advantage because we can access the best tutors during school hours when they have sessions available! Support for special educational needs? She DARES to mention SEN when it is the failure of Schools and LAs to provide such support while children are IN school that forces many parents to home educate in the first place! Unbelievable!

Local Authorities ALREADY HAVE all the powers they need to investigate and take action where they have concerns about the safety OR educational welfare of any child and to suggest otherwise is dishonest. Oh, sorry, we're talking about a politician aren't we, dishonesty is only to be expected.

p.s. Huggy Bear - do you walk around naked? If not, do you have something to hide? Surely you're not going to say your privacy.”

“Diana Johnson is an air-headed lawyer turned politician who hasn't a clue about education. She recently rejected a report by some experts who showed that maths standards had declined over the last 30 years.

She shouldn't be allowed to have any influence over the education of children in home or in school. This is precisely why parents want to educate their children at home. Good luck to them and stop interfering.”