PEOPLE in Wellington have signed a petition calling on the Government to treat families who educate their children at home more fairly and be fully consulted over policy changes.

Local MP Rebecca Pow has presented the petition signed by 77 residents in Wellington and Taunton to Parliament.

It was among a record 300 petitions from across the country asking the House of Commons to urge government to withdraw proposed new draft guidance to local authorities on home education claimed to infringe human rights and prevent home educated children getting the personalised education they need.

The draft guidance has caused uproar among home educators in Wellington who view the contents as damaging and draconian. They also believe their views and interests have been sidelined in what they regard as a flawed and biased consultation process.

Wellington mum Karen Turner, co-chairman of the local home education support group which co-ordinated the petition in the town, said: “The Department of Education has produced deeply flawed draft guidance designed to placate a group of local authorities which has been lobbying for greater oversight of home education.

“The ‘consultation’ the department issued appears to be only for show since officers are already quoting from it as if it were law.

“This proposed new guidance could be imposed in the autumn without any democratic process or scrutiny and yet it would encourage unlawful data sharing between agencies, encourage local authorities to prescribe what and how home educated children learn, and pressure families into allowing access by officials to their children with threats of extreme enforcement measures.”

Karen added: “If this guidance is introduced precious resources could be wasted harassing law abiding families. If there is money to spare it would be better invested in our cash-strapped schools, special educational needs provision and children’s services.

“Home educators are united in our opposition to these appalling measures. We are calling for the draft guidance to be binned and for Government to talk to and engage with us before bringing forward new proposals.

“We are also demanding an easy way for parents to get redress when local authorities overstep their powers, something which happens with alarming regularity.”