Government is introducing the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - a landmark piece of legislation to protect children which is something we can all support.

However, even with such a universal goal, we always need to be mindful about the detail. The Bill, which I recently voted for at its second reading, has sparked some concern among the home education community.

So, I’ve spoken to dozens of parents, here at my office to make sure their real experiences are fed into this Bill.

It is clear that for many families, home education is not simply a preference – it's a necessity. Some children struggle with bullying, mental health issues, or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and parents sometimes feel they should step in when the existing system hasn’t provided adequate support. I was struck by the sense of feeling among parents that the ability to offer children home education should be an inalienable right. I, of course, agree that ensuring that all children have access to the education that best suits their needs should be a priority, whether that takes place in a school setting or at home.

Around 70 per cent of schools had real-terms funding cuts since 2010, leaving many unable to provide the support children need.

Parents of SEND children were hit particularly hard by underfunding – putting pressure on families who made their own arrangements to do what’s best by their children.

But where the last government failed to invest, we have announced an extra £1-billion of funding for SEND.

Beyond funding, my own learning never stops so I am all ears on home educators’ concerns, and will be feeding back to Westminster key actions and recommendations, including:

Concerns around the prospect of Elective Home Education (EHE), where officers have to enter the child’s home as part of required checks. We need to recognise that for neurodiverse children it can be disruptive and distressing when a stranger goes into their home.

I will share calls that all EHE officers are given adequate neurodiversity and mental health training, to ensure they are carrying out their duties in a way that is sensitive to each child’s requirements. Where possible, these EHE officer teams should include staff who have themselves been home educated. This approach is often used to great effect when looking after children in the care system.

The home educators also urged government and local authorities to provide extra funding to deliver inspection work effectively. We cannot have staff overworked and forced to rush through their cases, increasing the likelihood of errors – due to a lack of resources. While I may not agree with home educators on every aspect of the debate, it is clear from my conversations with parents that home education is a massive commitment and not a decision that anyone takes lightly.

As this Bill progresses, we must ensure that efforts to safeguard children do not inadvertently create additional challenges for those being educated at home. Their voices must be heard and considered as we work to strike the right balance between child protection and parental choice.