Aberdeenshire Council is considering whether to offer flexible schooling for some families, but the option is available to all parents in Scotland.

What it means in practice is that, for part of the week, pupils would be taught at school, while for the rest of the time they would either be educated at home or in another environment, such as an outdoor learning centre.

The right to part-time schooling rests on the 1980 Education (Scotland) Act which states pupils are to be educated "in accordance with the wishes of their parents".

The reason Aberdeenshire Council is discussing the option now is because of specific requests from parents.

Read more: Council considers flexi-school plan

Tavis Potts told the council his son could benefit from breaking up his school week with half-a-day at home because he has struggled with full-time school and an increase in work.

He said: "I proposed a half-a-day, for example, where I could work directly with my son, help him with his various subjects, his maths, his science, his English, his comprehension.

"But also as a way to give him some extra tuition in the areas that we're all passionate about as a family, which isn't really covered by the school, for example outdoor education."

Across Scotland there is a significant variation in policy over this more flexible approach, with some councils including it in their guidance on home schooling and others making no reference to it.

Supporters of the scheme say it allows children to forge closer bonds with their parents, learn about subjects which interest them and have the opportunity to broaden their minds outside the traditional classroom experience.

It also allows children who are recovering from a long illness, or those who were previously home-schooled, the freedom to return to the classroom on a gradual basis.

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It can also be supportive to pupils with additional support needs who may benefit from more focussed support from parents or other specialists.

However, opponents of flexi-schooling state this can be confusing for children, put them at a disadvantage when it comes to making school friends and taking standardised exams and put undue pressure on parents, many of whom know nothing about teaching.

Disadvantages can also include resentment from other pupils who think it is unfair that they have to attend full-time and miss out on opportunities such as trips to the museum or zoo outings.

A report by Aberdeenshire Council states: "As stated previously the most important things which we need to consider in terms of such a proposal are the views of the parents and perhaps even the child themselves, whether or not the proposal meets the educational needs of the child in question and also the costs of the proposal and the effect that this would have on the public purse."

While the possibility of flexible schooling has been welcomed by some parents it is unlikely to be something adopted wholesale given the fact many pupils come from families where both parents work full-time.

According to some estimates only about 500 pupils, mainly in primary school, are currently being flexi-schooled.