Government has been urged to re-open the dialogue on the issue of home schooling before implementing tighter controls on how they operate.

Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said he believed it was reasonable to have some minimum guidelines in place, but it would be wrong for Government to impose strict controls without liasing further with the groups.

Mr. Smith spoke out after home school teachers and parents launched a campaign this week to stop the Education Ministry from restricting schools to only four pupils.

They have been told that from September this year, any home school with more than four students must apply for a licence to operate as an institute, or face closure.

Where parents are teaching only their own children, and no one else's, five or more students will be permitted without a licence.

The ruling has led to an outcry from those involved in home schooling, who claimed they did not wish to become institutes regulated by Government, and felt that only four students would make them no longer viable.

Mr. Smith, who attended a meeting last Friday of home school people, organised by those involved in the School of Tomorrow curriculum, said he believed further discussion was needed.

He said: "I am sympathetic to the fight by home school parents, teachers and children for some independence and freedom.

"Of course, with freedom comes responsibility and I believe it is reasonable to have some minimum guidelines for home schooling."

Mr. Smith said home schooling was given very little acknowledgement in the Education Act of 1996, and that needed to be changed. But only with full consultation of those involved.

He added: "I have to say, with the challenges facing public education at the moment, I do not quite understand why home schools are on the Minister's radar screen.

"Home schooling is a responsible and reasonable option for parents and it should be given proper recognition in our Education Act.

"It boggles the mind that a healthy dialogue between home school supervisors and the department could come to an abrupt end.

"Surely, telling home schools that they need to register or risk being shut down is not the best approach."

Two years' ago, home schools were invited by the Ministry to draw up their preferred policy for operating and present it to the department.

At that point, they were told that the Government guideline was for only four students per home school, but they could operate outside of the policy while deliberations were on-going.

The home schools handed over their agreed policy, suggesting that no limit be put on numbers, however they acknowledged that Government's preferred ratio was 15 students to one teacher.

The home schools were told that their student ratio was not accepted, and so they asked for a limit of 12.

They heard no more until May this year when Chief Education Officer Dr. Joseph Christopher told them the old policy of a maximum of four students would continue to apply, and would be enforced from September.

A statement released by the Ministry said it was committed to ensuring that all students receive a quality education in a "wholesome and safe environment".

He said: "It is still our view that where more than four students are being taught in a home, that facility must meet all health, planning and fire safety regulations required by law.

"While we respect all parent's rights to make decisions about the education of their children, the Ministry must also ensure that the learning environment is safe and suitable for the students.

"When a person is providing service to the public, we consider it appropriate for them to be regulated more closely."

Home school teacher Susan Roberts, who teaches 11 children from her home in Southampton, said she and her colleagues were more than happy to assist in the writing of a new policy however, she said, Government had suddenly thrust its plans to implement the old guidelines on them.

And she hit back at critics who said home school teachers were only interested in making money and running businesses.

She said: "We are not looking to run a business here - we are trying to educate people. A number of groups offer a discount, do work for free, or come to an arrangement with single parents.

"In my opinion, 12 is a small group of children. It allows for one-on-one teaching, but is also large enough so students can form close relationships with each other.

"We have the ability to create a group of girls and a group of boys. If we are limited to only four in a school, it will be a very boring environment."