The Welsh Government is planning to introduce home education legislation to enhance learning opportunities for home-educated children and ensure they have access to universal services. The news comes as Education Minister Jeremy Miles reassured concerned parents that the government is taking their worries seriously and engaging with the home-schooling community.

Several constituents had reached out to Natasha Asghar, Senedd member for South Wales East, with concerns regarding the proposed legislation, including mandatory meetings and the creation of a database to track home educators. Asghar sought assurances from the Minister that these concerns would be addressed.

Miles highlighted that the proposals have not yet been published, and that the Welsh Government has already engaged with various home educator organisations, including facilitating a national meeting in 2018, consultations in 2019 and 2020, and a meeting with Education Otherwise in 2022. He assured Asghar that the government would continue to listen to the voices of all stakeholders.

The upcoming home education legislation is part of a wider package of support for home educators, including a £1.7 million fund—the largest in any part of the UK. The legislation will offer core support across all 22 local authorities in Wales, developed in partnership with local authorities and informed by feedback from home-educating families. The support will include designated examination centres for external candidates, access to local authority counselling services, youth support services, additional learning needs support services, and support from Careers Wales, as well as a handbook for home educators.