NINETEEN children in Keighley Central are registered as being home schooled, a new report reveals.

It is the highest figure for any council ward outside Bradford.

Across the Bradford district, the official total exceeds 300 – although the actual number may be even higher.

The report into home education, which has been discussed by Bradford Council's children's services scrutiny committee, highlights the “limited powers” the council has to monitor youngsters' education when they are taught outside the normal school system.

It says the safety of children not registered as being home schooled “cannot be assured” and there may be many who are unknown to the council.

Parents who choose to teach their children at home are not required to notify local councils, and councils have no right to access their homes to monitor the education they are offering.

The report comes several months after outgoing Ofsted chief, Sir Michael Wilshaw, criticised the authority for being “naive” over the issue of children being taught at home, including at unregistered schools, and how they could be at risk of radicalisation.

Shortly after, the council set up an education safeguarding hub to strengthen work to keep children safe, and to monitor whether there are any unregistered schools in the district.

Judith Kirk, assistant director of children’s services on the council, compiled the report on the issue for the scrutiny committee.

It reveals that as of January, there were 333 children registered as being home educated.

Mrs Kirk’s report says: “Given that it is not a legal requirement to register home educated children with the local authority, there may be children who are being home educated that are unknown to the authority.

“The education safeguarding hub will work to identify children who are electively home educated but not registered with the authority and whose safety cannot be assured.”

It says the hub, established in March, is a “key vehicle in ensuring and promoting the wellbeing of children who are not attending any registered provision”.

The report highlights Bolton and Undercliffe as the ward with the highest number of children registered as being taught at home – 35 – followed by Toller, with 24.

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