PARENTS disillusioned with the mainstream school system have the option of educating their children at home.

In Burnley, parents set up a DIY school and support charity Education Otherwise, which operates across East Lancashire to help structure learning.

But the law governing children taught at home needs urgent attention to ensure they are getting the provision they deserve, teachers have said. Up to 170,000 children are thought to be educated outside schools in the UK but parents do not have to let local education authority inspectors check they are getting a decent diet of study.

Bullying, exam-related stress and the parents' fear of being jailed or fined up to £1,000 for allowing their children to play truant are said to be driving the growth in home education. The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) said they were the only ones who could be taught by unqualified people - yet were consistently not monitored.

Parents have the legal right to refuse a home visit or, if they do consent, not to have the child present. If the child has never been enrolled in mainstream education, their parent does not even need to tell the LEA of their existence.

Education Otherwise revealed its membership nationwide had almost doubled to 6,000 in the two years - and 100 families sign up a month.