The children’s commissioner emphasizes the need for stricter rules on home-schooling to protect vulnerable kids from potential abuse.
Woking: The children’s commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, is raising alarms about home-schooling. She believes that kids at risk of abuse shouldn’t be allowed to learn at home. It’s a serious issue, especially after the tragic case of Sara Sharif.
After her father and stepmother were convicted of her murder, Dame Rachel pointed out that it’s “madness” for parents to pull kids from school when there are concerns about their safety. She stressed that being in school is a crucial safeguard for children.
In a recent interview, she said that if there’s any suspicion of abuse, home education should not be an option. Kids need to be in a safe environment, and teachers play a vital role in that. They can spot signs of trouble that might go unnoticed at home.
Sara’s case is heartbreaking. She was found with numerous injuries, and her family had a history of domestic violence. Before her death, teachers noticed bruises and reported them, but sadly, the case was dropped. This allowed her parents to take her out of school.
Dame Rachel is calling for changes in the law to prevent this from happening again. She believes that local authorities should have to approve home-schooling requests for any child known to social services due to abuse or neglect.
She’s not against home-schooling but insists there must be stricter rules and oversight. No child with a social worker should be allowed to leave school without proper checks. It’s all about keeping kids safe.
Surrey County Council is set to conduct an independent review of the case, and the government is also looking into how to improve protections for children. They want to ensure that no child falls through the cracks again.