Government Policy

Through its Government Policy Group, Education Otherwise aims to keep abreast of any area of Government policy that may affect home educators. This enables us to lobby the relevant departments to make them aware of the potential impact of their policies on our community. We also initiate and coordinate responses to official consultations. EO is recognised by government departments as a significant group in the home education community.

Since 2007 Education Otherwise Government Policy Group has also run a campaign website which has all the latest home education news.

Members of the Government Policy Group also attend meetings and events with officials on a regular basis and are also invited to speak at conferences. In addition we send home educators to regional and national Government events to put forward their views first and foremost as concerned parents, and secondly as parents whose children are not in the school system. From our point of view it also promotes awareness of the legality and normality of home education. If you are organising an event please contact the Government Policy Group using our contact form.

It is not just policies from the Department of Children, Schools & Families which can affect home educators, as the recent decision to make changes to the Job Seekers' Allowance showed.

Our experiences as home educators lead us to question some of the assumptions and beliefs from which the government policy initiatives stem, since they often appear to present a negative view of children and families. We try to present arguments which reflect EO’s values:

  • the natural right of parents to educate at home

  • parents' ability to make their own decisions and find their way to home educate

  • understanding of the infinite variety of educational practice

  • respect for children, parents, and for the privacy of their home

  • the promotion of awareness of education otherwise than at school

The GPG want to be open about our representations to the Government, and are keen to encourage our members to share their views via the Members Forum, or through invitations in our newsletter. Others can express their views by contacting the GPG using our contact form. We always publicise the consultation responses and notes from our meetings with Government and you can find these here.