The NSPCC are supporting this review

Head of policy and public affairs at the NSPCC, Diana Sutton, said:

"We welcome the Government's decision to review the guidance on home education. We believe the existing legislation and guidance on elective home education is outdated. We support the view set out by the London (LA) Children's Safeguarding Leads network that the government should review the legislation to balance the parents' rights to home educate their children, the local authorities' duty to safeguard children and the child's right to protection. We welcome the fact that this review will look at where local authorities have concerns about the safety and welfare, or education, of a home educated child and what systems are in place to deal with those concerns."

On Tuesday 20th January 2009, a spokesman for the NSPCC called Vijay Patel appeared in place of Baroness Morgan on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 to discuss this consultation. Vijay Patel was asked if there was any evidence to back up the claim that home education is being used as a cover for child abuse. He admitted that there was NO EVIDENCE to back up the claims with.

Following is a direct quote from a transcript of the radio show:

The nerve of it is amazing. Baroness Morgan first suggests the existence of child abuse, then her spokesman openly admits there is no evidence to support this claim.

If the government hasn't got an ounce of evidence, then on what basis do they think they have the right to launch such an investigation in the first place!?

Dissident Congress is deeply suspicious that the NSPCC are guilty of ignoring Children's Right's by developing this consultation with the government without seeking the opinion of children first. There is no mechanism for children to respond to the consultation because it has been framed without their input in mind. The question we ask is, are the NSPCC hand in glove with the government?

Please consider making a complaint to the NSPCC who appear to be a primary source of smoke and rumour that there are undiscovered depths of child abusers amongst home educating parents. Send your emails to vijay.patel@nspcc.org.uk