CHILDREN and parents of the home schooling community in St Albans gathered at Verulamium Park yesterday to celebrate the start of their new term.

Home educators across the country were hosting a "not back to school" picnic.

The event was held to raise awareness of home education in the wake of a Government report into elective home education.

About 30 children from the district, along with their families, enjoyed a sunny afternoon of fun at the play park which also included face painting and a tasty picnic to celebrate the start of another year of learning.

Last year Carolyn Crawshaw, of Woodstock Road South, mounted a campaign with other educators to protect the rights of families to educate their own children free from Government interference.