THE senior politician in charge of children's social care in Worcestershire has defended parents who home school - saying "the overwhelming majority" of youngsters are safe.

Councillor John Campion, the county council's cabinet member for children and families, also insisted he has faith in the staff to weed out any parents trying to play the system.

As your Worcester News revealed yesterday, the independent chairman of Worcestershire's Safeguarding Children Board says she is "extremely concerned" about evidence some abusers are seeing home schooling as a route for escaping social workers and police.

Diana Fulbrook is planning to write to the Government for a second time to ask for law changes, saying at the moment it is too easy for families to suddenly pull a child from school and register for home education without any powers to delay it, review the decision or explore why.

Councillor Campion, part of the Conservative leadership at County Hall, said the concern is a national one - and that efforts are going on behind the scenes to "tighten" the council's position on it.

Figures show they are currently 317 children registered as home-educated in the county, but applications are coming in constantly.

"The overwhelming majority of home educated children in Worcestershire are safe and well - they are being provided with the appropriate level of education," said Councillor Campion.

"The concerns that home educated children are at higher risk is a national concern and we are continuing to work locally to tighten our position to ensure that we continue to keep children safe.

"The informal relationships we have with home educators allow us to provide support and advice when it's needed.

"Our home education officers are highly trained and follow robust safeguarding procedures to identify and support any vulnerable children.

"Although the (council) does not have a remit to monitor all home educated children, we do have a duty and the authority to step in whenever educational or safeguarding concerns are raised."

Mrs Fulbrook says within the last year she's seen one case review where being home educated was "a feature" of the abuse a child received - and says there is evidence a more general issue.

She says her concerns only relate to a "very small minority" of parents, but says ministers should urgently look at the legislation to make the process more onerous - a view firmed up after concerns from some teachers and paediatricians.

Several parents who home educate have reacted negatively to the concern, with some saying mainstream schools around the country view them with too much suspicion.

It comes at a time when Worcestershire has around 690 looked-after children on the books.