In his leader (4 November), Gerard Kelly wrote: “Whatever the motivations of parents who choose to educate their children at home, it is hard not to see their choice as a slap in the face for the profession. It’s like Jamie Oliver offering to cook for the family and mum declining because she prefers Iceland’s Freezer Pleasers. How could teachers not be offended?”

I think that the offence lies in exactly that illusion. I would adjust your comment to read as follows: “It’s like Jamie Oliver offering to cook for the family and mum declining because she is as good a cook as him, and prefers to use her own recipes.”

Parents educate their children outside the school system because they are confident that they can offer at least as good, and in many cases better, education. And this is not just a belief. The results speak for themselves.

Cathy Koetsier, Home Education Advisory Service.