THURROCK Council has come under fire for acting "beyond its power" when it comes to parents choosing how their child is educated...and has been told to urgently change its policy.

The challenge has come from Graham Stuart MP, chairman of the Education Select Committee, who has written to Thurrock chief executive Graham Farrant with his concerns.

He claims that a document, entitled Process for Elective Home Education, which governs how the council manages parents choosing to home school their children consistently "misrepresents the council's duties and powers to home education and fails to offer any constructive support for parents".

In his letter, Mr Stuart says: "Thurrock Council's 'Process for Elective Home Education' ignores the central theme of the Government's guidelines, which is: 'The responsibility for a child's education rests with his or her parents'.

"Instead, it imposed an unwarranted and ultra vires [beyond its powers] series of restrictions upon the right of parents to educate their children as they see best." 

He has requested that the authority urgently changes its policy to bring it in line with Government guidelines.

Jackie Doyle-Price, the MP for Thurrock, said: "I suspect that the intentions behind this are to encourage the educating of children in schools. That is quite reasonable but does not excuse what is a bullying approach to parents who wish to educate their children at home. 

"With one in five parents in Thurrock not getting their preferred schoolplace for their child some do consider home educating. Instead of applying this dictatorial heavy handed approach, the Council should be working more proactively with parents to given them access to the kind of education they want for their children. 

"I am pleased to have supported the creation of three new schools in Thurrock to expand parental choice. This is a far more effective way of getting children into schools than the 'take what you are given' attitude displayed by the council."

A spokesman for Thurrock Council said: "Thurrock Council respects the right of parents to educate their children at home, should they choose to do so in line with national guidance for home education. 

"There is also a duty on councils to satisfy themselves that children are receiving a suitable education and are safe from harm. 

"The vast majority of parents who home educate are caring loving parents and there will be no concern at all.

"The council’s policy was designed to be supportive to parents, while ensuring that where, in a small minority of cases, there were concerns about children’s welfare, support could be given. 

"The council is happy to reword its policy to make this balance absolutely clear and is keen to work with parents who are choosing this form of education to help to reformulate the wording of our policy."