Home schooled children could face compulsory registration, government consultation suggests

'New issues affecting home education have arisen in recent years, especially the vulnerability of some children to radicalisation'

The number of children being home educated is rising, new document suggests (PA)

A compulsory register of children who are taught outside of school is being considered by the government, after concerns were raised about pupils going missing from the system.

The consultation will ask whether parents who educate their children at home should be made to register with their local authority.

It will also consider sanctions for parents that do not comply with registration.

Published by the Department for Education (DfE), it suggests "the numbers of home educated children are rising", citing figures which claim it had risen by 20 per cent in 18 months to 45,500.

"New issues affecting home education have arisen in recent years, especially the vulnerability of some children to radicalisation, and the spread of unregistered schools offering services to home-educating parents," the document states.

However, it adds that system needs to work in the interests of parents doing a "good job.”

The public will also asked for their views on whether schools should face a "financial consequence" if parents withdraw their children from the school roll to educate them at home.

It follows concerns that schools are attempting to play the system by "off-rolling" - illegally removing a pupil from the roll because they could negatively affect their league table performance.

"This government's vision is to ensure that all children and young people receive world-class education in a safe environment so that they all have the opportunity to succeed and reach their potential, regardless of background," The document states.

"The department believes that home education is often good, and that it is a valid way of realising these ambitions for children. However, there is no assurance that this is always the case."

Last month, education secretary Damian Hinds told MPs on the Education Select Committee that parents who home-educate children deserve "appreciation and support".

But he warned: "We don't want schools to be pushing for [home education] to happen."

Lord Agnew, minister for school systems, said: "Across the country there are thousands of dedicated parents who are doing an excellent job of educating their children at home, and many selfless volunteers working for clubs and organisations that help to enrich children’s education outside of school.

"It is right that we should build on the high standards we’ve set in our schools so that every child receives a suitable and safe education – no matter where they are being taught – and that we can act quickly in the rare instances when this is not the case."