Penny Booth: What seems to be 'in the family way' this week, then?

Well as the new school year gets into its early weeks it did occur to me that the new schools provisions in ‘free schools' give a false sense of choice for parents. Real choice would come with being able to spend the money on the school of choice but our political masters have decided this is the best way to get families involved in schools. The best and most obvious way to get involved is to know what your child is doing in school encourage their formal education and take part in parents' evenings. There may be welcome relief when the children go back to school but our children would benefit from greater parental involvement in their education. Education as they say is too important to be left to the professionals. Education is what happens in the family formal schooling helps it along and certificates it but all that takes time and the ability to make a contribution. Parents should be given...

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