The Children’s Commissioner for England has said that parents should not be allowed to educate a child at home if it is believed that a child is being abused.
Dame Rachel D’Souza told the BBC it was “madness” that the law currently allows parents to take a child out of school, even if concerns have already been raised.
It follows the death of 10-year-old Sarah Sharif, who was expelled from school after her father and stepmother found out her teachers had contacted social services. It was talked about.
On Wednesday, Irfan Sharif, 43, and Benish Batul, 30, were found guilty of Sarah’s murder after a trial heard they subjected her to horrific abuse for two years.
Sarah’s body was found with dozens of injuries – including burns and possible human bite marks – at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in the early hours of August 10 last year.
He was assassinated two days ago, prompting Sharif and the rest of the family to flee to Pakistan.
About an hour after landing, Sharif called the police in England and told the operator that he had killed Sarah.
In the months after Sarah’s death, teachers at her school raised concerns about the injuries on her body with Surrey County Council’s social services.
An investigation began but was closed again after six days, and Sara was expelled from the school altogether after the reference came to Sharif and Batul’s knowledge.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Dame Rachel said she should never have been allowed to do this.
“If there is a child. [the] the suspect [victim] Because of abuse, they cannot be educated at home,” she said.
“Being in school is a safety. They are safer in the eyes of the teachers.
“We can’t leave a child who is at risk … to go home and get an education. It’s crazy.”
The government is currently planning a Child Welfare Bill which will “make changes to ensure children are safe, healthy, happy and treated fairly”.
Dame Rachel said the bill should introduce a register of all home-schooled children, which currently does not exist.
He added that there should be greater data sharing between health and education services as well as between different sectors of the country to ensure that at-risk children are identified.
He also called for an end to exemptions in assault laws that allow for the “reasonable punishment” of children.
Surrey County Council has said that, now that the trial has concluded, an independent safeguarding review of the case will be carried out.
Rachel Wardell, executive director for Children, said: “We are committed to safeguarding children, and we are committed to playing an active and active role in the upcoming review, together with partner agencies, to ensure that Sarah’s tragedy is resolved. Understand the wider context of death.”