THE current home schooling laws have created a "hidden population" of children which is impossible to monitory, officials in Glasgow have warned.

 

Under the current law, parents are not required to register their children for home schooling.

For those who are registered - around 58 in Glasgow - education officials are only required to contact families once a year, to monitor progress and this can take the form of a written report from parents.

They say the current law means it is almost impossible to monitor what standard of education home schooled children are receiving.

They have also raised concern that children with additional support needs may be missing out on psychological support, offered in schools.

If parents decide to enrol children back into mainstream education, they say it can be difficult for those children to re-integrate.

Education leaders have also raised concern about the impact of the proposed named person scheme on children who are home schooled.

The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 will see every Scottish child allocated a named person, usually a health worker up to the age of five, followed by a teacher.

The scheme is designed to help improve child protection procedures.

However it is not clear how home schooled children will be allocated a named person, particularly if they are not registered with a local authority.

Kathryn Farrow, quality improvement for Glasgow City Council said: "Our records show that there are 58 children home schooled. There is a hidden population.

"We follow the current legislation to the letter.

"We are only required to contact families once a year. That might just be a letter from the parents.

"I've had crumpled notes sent back by parents. The letters could have been written by anyone.

"There is no doubt that some families do an excellent job.

"Some parents decide to send their children back into mainstream education. If they have additional support needs, it can be difficult for them to re-integrate.

"We are not sure how the named person scheme is going to work with home schooled children because it is assumed that head teachers will take this role.

"We know that families are offered support initially by organisations but we have concerns about the continued support that is offered."