In a letter published in the Telegraph in January, Christian MP David Burrowes responds to the apparent intention of Ofsted to insist on the registration of Church youth groups.
'Last week Open Doors published their World Watch List of the persecution of Christians by country. Christians are all too aware of the increasing threats to religious freedom from militant Islam. So the Government's plan to tackle radicalisation is welcome. However, it is both ironic and wrong to catch Christian groups in a blanket requirement for registration and inspection of "out of school" education of more than 6 to 8 hours a week.
'Next month my family will be involved in a holiday club for over 100 children at our local church in Enfield and in the summer I help lead a youth camp of 50 teenagers. These are just two examples of thousands across the country which represent over half of all youth provision in this country. We know and welcome the current legal requirements of safeguarding and child protection. However the prospect of state registration and routine inspection of our activities alongside thousands like them across the country is a huge step too far.
