Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Llyr Gruffydd AM, has today issued a cautious welcome for the Welsh Government’s proposals for local  authorities to keep a database of home-schooled children in their area.

Llyr Gruffydd AM added that Plaid Cymru believed the proposals should go further and that his party would continue to campaign for a full compulsory register where all parents who educate their children at home must notify their local authority.

Llyr Gruffydd AM said: “Plaid Cymru has forced this issue onto the political agenda and these proposals are a step in the right direction.

“However, we are of the view they don’t go far enough in ensuring that all children have the right to a suitable education.

“There are questions over implementation – mainly over how putting the  onus on local authorities to identify home schooled children, rather than place a responsibility on the families to come forward, is more effective.

“We need clarity from the government as to whether these proposals will create a stronger requirement to allow authorities access to children.

“We will still campaign for a compulsory register where all parents who educate their children at home must notify their local authority.”