Support for children educated at home to take college courses could cost a council more than £300,000 a year.

An opposition leader at West Sussex County Council claims the authority has brought in the costly scheme for the benefit of ‘just four families’.

An assertion the authority denies.

The council has agreed to support 14 to 16-year-olds who have studied at home to the tune of £2,900 a year to attend college courses.

In total there are 112 children home schooled in West Sussex and 723 across the county.

Lib Dem leader Morwen Millson said: “We are not against home educating but it is wrong to start funding a new initiative when there has been no consultation and ahead of any proposals from central Government.”

But Peter Griffiths, education cabinet member, said the council was hoping to be reimbursed by the Government and was awaiting new guidance from the Department of Education on home schooled students.

He said: “It is very misleading to say this policy is costing £300,000 for four children. The figure currently is actually £11,600 when the cost is £2,900 per child."

There were 275 children home schooled in Brighton and Hove last year, and, according to the city council, there are on average 150 children being educated at home at any one time.

In East Sussex there are currently 336 children being home educated.