A MOTHER said she was “terrified” of being dragged through the courts by Thurrock Council – or that her children might be taken into care – after choosing to educate them at home.

Christine Mann, of Adelaide Road, Tilbury, took her two boys Liam, 11, and Phil, 15, out of Lansdowne Primary School and Hassenbrook Academy in May because she believes they were stuggling.

Now, Mrs Mann has launched a campaign on Facebook, called Home Education Thurrock, that she hopes will make it easier for parents to exercise their right to home-school their children.

It comes after she felt intimidated by the council, which she said was demanding to carry out home visits, but offered little access to information on how best to teach children from home.

Recently, Graham Stuart MP, who chairs the Commons education select committee, wrote to the council, accusing it of “acting beyond its powers” and demanding that its policy on home education be changed.

Mrs Mann, 39, said: “I was terrifed that I was going to lose my children to social services, or have to go to court for doing nothing wrong.

“The council said that we do not encourage home education, we like to see children in school. But it’s been wonderful for Liam, and Phil is getting one-to-one teaching ahead of his GCSEs.”

A spokesman for Thurrock Council said: “We have met with Mrs Mann and invited her – as well as other parents who home-educate their children – to work with us on reviewing our policy and make it as parent-friendly as possible.

We are looking forward to the discussions.

“In exceptional cases, where there are concerns about safeguarding or the quality of education, for example, the local authority has a duty to follow these up.”