Your sister-in law should be kicked right up the backside and sent to school herself, she is quite obviously a poor parent and through her lack of foresight has robbed her children of a decent start to education, as for the "she's on benefits and therfore her kids have a right to 'free' education", she should understand that her children will now cost taxpayers (so much for free) much more to re-educate her children and the likelyhood is that her children will end up on benefits themselves because of the quite appalling education she has provided for them (I do not see why the state should pick the pieces up of this case). Incidentally I would like to see her prosecuted for not allowing the children to attend school ,normally you can only home teach if you are going to provide the children with an education equal to or better than the education they are likely to receive in school. As for help with private fees- you reap what you sow.