A MOTHER homeschooling her child while waiting for a place at an oversubscribed Taunton school claims Somerset Council is "neglecting homeschooled children".

Inga Marcinkoniene, from Taunton, said she's had "zero support" from the education services after being unwilling to send her 11-year-old daughter to Pyrland School.

Although the family lives a mile closer to their preferred Castle School, they are in the catchment area for Pyrland School and don't wish to send another child there, after "going through hell with bullying."

Inga said: "I'm just one family from thousands who are homeschooling, and I've been talking with other families as well and it is shocking what's going on out there.

"There's nothing for homeschooling, not even a form to say this and this would be happening. There's supposed to be a team [that monitors the child's education], but since September when my daughter started homeschooling nobody has been in touch whatsoever."

She added: "I asked the council how much my daughter would be entitled to if she was going to attend normal school. The figure was £7,690 per pupil. So, if she's not going to school where's this money going?"

Inga has also questioned Somerset Council over why homeschooled pupils must independently cover the cost of exams and find a school where they can sit them.

A spokesperson for Somerset Council told the Gazette: "Once a child is removed from roll and a parent or carer declares them to be electively home-educated, the council receives no funding at all for the child from central government.

"That is why all educational costs, such as exams, must be met by the parent or carer.

"Due to the high number of children in the county who are electively home educated, the sum of money coming into the county for education is around £10m lower than it otherwise would be."

Inga believes the reality of homeschooling needs to be shared with parents before they decide to take their child out of school. She said that had she known her daughter "would miss out" she may have chosen a different decision.

She said: "We are 48th in the queue for Castle School, and I know there's no way we will get into that school. I know that for a fact.

"You choose to homeschool, and then afterwards you think, hold on, nobody is contacting me. Nobody is checking on them, no support, and the children are left to it. Nobody cares about them."

Inga believes Somerset Council should help fund online learning for homeschooled children, to "automatically reduce children overloaded in schools, and people who are in the queue for a school place".

Inga said: "I chose homeschooling thinking that there would be support. I don't need direct payments from the council, I'm not after their money, I'm after that they pay a company where my daughter can do online schooling as a class. But there's nothing.

"When I researched what homeschooling would be good for my child, yes you can download free apps but there are no learning skills - it just says whether you're right or wrong, but no explanation.

"The cheapest online schooling was £1,200, but it goes up to £10,000 if you're looking for a proper one. You get online classes of up to 19 children in a class and it's just from home, but you still get the teacher, the school environment, and homework.

"So it's amazing, but I'm just shocked that the council is not supporting that system."

Inga's daughter is "very into history and criminology" and is considering becoming a mental health nurse, which means it is "important for her to go to college".

Given the option, Inga said her daughter would "definitely" take up a place at Castle School.

Inga added: "My daughter was born in this country so her English is very good, her first language is English, but I came from Lithuania, so there's no way I could teach her English as I would do more damage. 

"It's not just that, I've got a full-time job. The way the system works, it forces me to leave my job, go on benefits so council can pay all my bills, and then I do homeschool education which is just not normal."

"The way it is, I felt like we were forced to pick any school. I want more for her. Pyrland School has been Ofsted rated 'requires improvement' for 12 years, it's shocking."

Pyrland School, formerly Taunton Academy, has been given the Ofsted rating of "requires improvement" or "inadequate" since it opened in 2012.

Head Teacher Lisa Webber said: “Pyrland School is, of course, saddened to hear that a parent has reservations about sending their child to our school. Pyrland is rapidly improving and growing over the last two years, with waiting lists in every year group. 

“It is every parent's right to opt into home education, but this is never a way to secure a place in a different school. We would always be keen to work directly with parents to ensure their child is supported, thriving and happy. 

"In their recent monitoring visit, Ofsted acknowledged the progress we had made in improving the school, but we don't do it for Ofsted. We are committed to providing an excellent academic, pastoral and enrichment offer for all our children. The community can see how far we've transformed their school."