Home school teachers on Friday handed a petition of more than 2,000 names to Education Minister Paula Cox - but Government has refused to budge on its plans to enforce tighter controls.

Six home school supervisors gathered with their students and some parents outside the House of Assembly to present their petition to Ms Cox, and to ask for further talks on the future policy for alternative education.

They want Government to increase the number of students allowed to attend a home school, which currently stands at four.

Many have flouted the law in the past, running schools in their homes with up to 15 students at a time, but from this September, they must either register as a school and abide by planning, fire and health regulations, or face closure.

Yesterday, Ms Cox said she appreciated the petition and the place of home schooling in today's society, but said she had to ensure all students on the Island were safe.

When asked by the campaigners for more talks on the issue, the Minister said discussions had been held for 18 months and that the decisions had been taken following full consultation.

And she said her mind was set.

She said there may be "narrow scope" for home schools with more than four students to continue as they are, provided they meet all of the requirements on health and safety.

And that evidence, she said, would have to be "very very strong".

However, she added: "I don't want to mislead you because I think we have already had a considerable, protractible period of time and I think you have already realised where the Ministry is.

"Health and safety to me is most paramount. If you refer to the Education Act 1996, it already sets out that in order to be a registered school you have to have not fewer than five (students).

"You are already in breach of the law if you were not adhering to the Education Act."

The Minister said there was no question about parents being able to educate their children in a less conventional situation, but said there must always be regulations and rules.

She added: "It would not politically prudent, would not be sensible, reasonable or defensible for a Minister of Education to say there are no rules."

Ms Cox addressed Parliament earlier yesterday on the plans for home schooling and said all parents had to inform the Ministry if they decided to educate their children other than in a registered school.

And she said all children must be tested regularly, by an assessment approved by the Ministry, with the results presented for inspection.

The Minister said there were more than 100 students involved in home schooling. Half of those, she said, were being instructed by their own parents while the other half were being schooled in someone else's home.

She said there was no intention to regulate anyone who was schooling their own children. However, those who took in other people's children, and were paid for it, had to meet certain requirements - as would any school or business.

She added: "The policy is being implemented in the interests of maintaining the health and safety of the children and the providers involved in that situation.

"Indeed, as you are aware, there are health and safety requirements for any organisation which provides a service to the public.

"We have suggested that any facility providing an education experience for more than four students should be registered. We do not consider this to be unreasonable. A learning institution serving more than four students is no longer just a home.

"It is a place where other people's children have come to learn, and where some one is paid to provide that service."

Home school teachers listening to Ms Cox said they were not happy with the situation. They said although there had been dialogue in the past, they had heard nothing about Government's plans until May this year - a year after the consultation ceased.

Susan Roberts, who teaches 11 students, said parents visited her home regularly and were involved in their child's education, therefore they were fully aware of the health and safety standards.

If the home schools did not meet the grade, then parents would remove them.

She said if homes had to be altered to meet the school requirements, then the cost to parents may increase.

Former teacher Jerome Stovell, who taught at Berkeley Institute for 16 years, said he believed Government had to ensure its schools met all health and safety regulations if it was going to insist the same from home schools.

He said: "My main fear is that our rights as parents to choose an alternative option for our children is being threatened. We are happy to comply with reasonable standards, but we have a problem with being an institute because that hits at the very core of what we are doing."

He said the various teachers did not want any home school to offer a poor service because it would jeopardise them all.

Teacher Peggy Baptiste, who formerly taught in the public system, said she could remember many times when health and safety standards were not met.

She said: "Some of the suggestions they have made are very narrow. I do feel there is more room for discussion.'

Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said he also believed the policy was too narrow.

He said: "With respect to the number of children, the (Education) Act should be changed. It should enable larger groups.

"Parents are not concerned about big rooms, they are concerned there are no knives in the classroom, no scuffles, no fights and no bulling."