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Chamber and committees

Question reference: S6W-25783

  • Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
  • Date lodged: 26 February 2024
  • Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 March 2024

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children who are educated at home.


Answer

Local authorities hold responsibility for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children being home educated, and that the education they are receiving is suitable for their age and ability. In line with the Scottish Government's home education guidance, it is recommended that local authorities should make contact on an annual basis with those families who are known to be home educating within that local authority area.

If, from whatever source, an authority becomes aware of concerns about the home education of any child, outwith the normal contact time, they will need to gather the necessary information in order to form a view on whether those concerns are justified or whether the parents are providing an efficient education suitable to the age, ability and aptitude of the child. Local authorities have their own individual and established processes to obtain this information.