Commenting on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Rocio Cifuentes, MBE said:
Many families choose to home educate their children to enable their children to reach their full potential in a safe, happy and healthy environment.
As the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill passes through the Senedd, I know that it is causing concern and anxiety for some families due to its potential implications for Welsh children.
Since 2015 my office has called for Welsh Government policy on home education to meet three tests to ensure that all children experience their rights, wherever they are educated.
These include:
- First, that all children in Wales can be accounted for and that none are invisible.
- Second, that every child receives a suitable education and their other human rights, including health, care and safety is protected.
- And third, that every child is seen and their views and experiences are listened to. This is essential for the first two tests to be met.
I have welcomed the bill as a significant move toward strengthening the safeguarding of all children in Wales, as plans to improve child protection for home educated children have been discussed in Wales for many years with little progress.
However, as our Senedd prepares to debate the Legislative Consent Motion on the bill, I have also urged that a full Children’s Rights Impact Assessment of the bill’s implications for Wales should be published.
Furthermore, I have reiterated to Welsh Government the importance of ensuring full and meaningful engagement and consultation with children, young people and their families in Wales when drawing up the regulations or statutory guidance for Wales – and I have offered to help facilitate such discussions.