Parents who decide to educate their children at home will be required to submit an annual report if proposed law changes go ahead.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen has confirmed plans to include such a requirement in the Education Bill, due to be released for consultation at the start of next year.

In a written answer to a question from Daphne Caine (Garff), Mr Cregeen says the Department for Education and Children has an obligation under law to ensure that parents fulfil their ’duty’ to ensure their children receive ’suitable’ education.

In most instances, that is covered through assessment of what happens at school.

’For children being taught at home there is currently no way of determining whether a suitable education is being provided,’ he says.

’As part of the new Education Act, the department has put forward a proposal to allow it to meet the duty it has by asking home educators to provide an annual report of the education they have provided for their children so that the department can be assured that the children concerned are receiving a full-time education that is suitable to their age and ability.’

Mr Cregeen says the department would welcome their feedback and to hear ’if they feel there is a more appropriate way for the department to ensure that a suitable education is received by children educated at home’.

In a separate question, Juan Watterson (Rushen) asked whether there were any issues over the quality of home education for children.

Mr Cregeen states in his reply: ’The department is unable to comment on the quality or otherwise of the education provided to children who are home educated, as we currently have no legislative powers to be able to determine the level of education these children receive or the quality of the provision.’