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Home schooling
What are the rules about home schooling? Does anyone home school their own children? Thanks
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Hi, We home school as does fellow member mimififi if she sees this. The basis is that there are no rules except that you have to give your child an education suitable to his or her age and stage of development.This can be as structured or as unstructured as you please ( some gypsy families home school with only an oral tradition) so there is no right or wrong way to go about it.
It's a good idea to notify the LEA, although not compulsary, as they can be very helpful, but you are under no obligation to do so. Do make sure though prior to home educating that your child is un-enrolled at school, as otherwsie if they are still on the school register they will just be classed as not attending and you could be fined.
If you google "education otherwise" you'll get lots of results with far more detail about it, but for us, it was the best decision we ever made.If you need to know anything specific please let me know and I'll try to answer.
It's a good idea to notify the LEA, although not compulsary, as they can be very helpful, but you are under no obligation to do so. Do make sure though prior to home educating that your child is un-enrolled at school, as otherwsie if they are still on the school register they will just be classed as not attending and you could be fined.
If you google "education otherwise" you'll get lots of results with far more detail about it, but for us, it was the best decision we ever made.If you need to know anything specific please let me know and I'll try to answer.
You have to prove that you can educate your child in the proper manner. It's not all about English, Maths and Geography; of more importance are social skills. Unless there are strict medical prohibitions, these are best done in a school with one's own peers, interacting with one another, day in, day out. Home-schooled children need to be constantly in contact with a wide pool of other children so that they're not suddently thrust into the wide world at 18 with a Double First in rocket science but remedial level in social interaction. There are a few cases where children are hot-housed by a parent whose ambitions border on the sinister. These children again are highly well-read but mentally fragile, isolated and confused.
Equally damaging although well-intentioned are parents who wish to protect their offspring from the rough and tumble of life. Unfortunately life is far from smooth and it's important to be introduced to these facts rather than shielded from them.
Anyone wanting to educate their children at home should ask: is it to give my child a better future or merely to shape it for my own needs?
Equally damaging although well-intentioned are parents who wish to protect their offspring from the rough and tumble of life. Unfortunately life is far from smooth and it's important to be introduced to these facts rather than shielded from them.
Anyone wanting to educate their children at home should ask: is it to give my child a better future or merely to shape it for my own needs?
sherrardk...you can also try this link http://www.home-education.org.uk/menu1.htm Ive home educated my 10 yr old son for the past 3 yrs.Ive heard all the usual stuff about social interraction etc and its all bunkum.My son had a hell of a time mixing at school and was constantly ill with nerves.Now hes well adjusted has lots of friends and more confidence.If he'd stayed in a school enviroment im convinced that he would have ended up visiting a shrink.Why people think (as far as school goes) that one size fits all is beyond me.Learning should be FUN, not forced.I spent years at school, been forced to learn algabra and logarithims and havnt a clue to this day what on earth they were about.What a complete waste of time...
In response to NikkiB, I've never heard such a load of utter b0llocks in my entire life. Most home schooled children are not socially dysfunctional and I've never met any home-schooling parents in either of the moulds you describe. Schools are over rated by the narrow minded in my experience and teach negative values, herd mentalities and have a dismal standard of general education.
You did not answer the question posed by the poster, just attacked those of us who home school, which was a somewhat pointless and offensive thing to do, but then perhaps you went to school and therefore didn't really understand the question?
Sherrardk, as previously stated by those of us who actually KNOW, you do not have to "prove" anything, your modus operandai ( that's Latin Nikki, something my eight year old understands fluently) is fine whatever it is as long as it's appropriate to age and ability. Good luck, and don't let the paranoid minority put you off if you think it's right for your child, it's very rewarding for both child and parent and produces well rounded, socially confident children who reach their full potential.
You did not answer the question posed by the poster, just attacked those of us who home school, which was a somewhat pointless and offensive thing to do, but then perhaps you went to school and therefore didn't really understand the question?
Sherrardk, as previously stated by those of us who actually KNOW, you do not have to "prove" anything, your modus operandai ( that's Latin Nikki, something my eight year old understands fluently) is fine whatever it is as long as it's appropriate to age and ability. Good luck, and don't let the paranoid minority put you off if you think it's right for your child, it's very rewarding for both child and parent and produces well rounded, socially confident children who reach their full potential.
I knew certain people would fly off the handle in a petulant rage. "If the cap fits, wear it" is a quotation that springs to mind.
The quite incredible and infantile boast about your 8 year old knowing a little Latin - you're unwittingly living up to the concerns of youngsters being hot-housed so that parents can bask in the imagined glory. Every child knows a little Latin, a little French, a little German, a little Arabic. Open your eyes and try not to get into a rage when encountering an alternative view to your own. I trust open and frank debates without the fear of sarcastic responses will one day feature on your self-styled curriculum?
To others who responded - your reasoned posts are fine and dandy and I wasn't trying to insult. There are legitimate situations when a child is best tutored at home; it just so happens that I don't believe that every adult who wants this is suited to teach. I have little time for faith schools, stage schools and sporting academies as for similar reasons.
Peace.
The quite incredible and infantile boast about your 8 year old knowing a little Latin - you're unwittingly living up to the concerns of youngsters being hot-housed so that parents can bask in the imagined glory. Every child knows a little Latin, a little French, a little German, a little Arabic. Open your eyes and try not to get into a rage when encountering an alternative view to your own. I trust open and frank debates without the fear of sarcastic responses will one day feature on your self-styled curriculum?
To others who responded - your reasoned posts are fine and dandy and I wasn't trying to insult. There are legitimate situations when a child is best tutored at home; it just so happens that I don't believe that every adult who wants this is suited to teach. I have little time for faith schools, stage schools and sporting academies as for similar reasons.
Peace.
My children are not hot housed, they are nurtured you arrogant bint and my eight year old timetables her own work, a concept I don't expect you to even begin to understand. You are rude, offensive and unpleasant and yet when someone responds in like to you, you become defensive and attempt to imply yet again that people are unsuited to educate their children and are responding inappropriately. You said, "Unless there are strict medical proghibitions", that implies that those of us who are unhappy with School because it doesn't meet our requirements for a good educaiton or social grounding should not be permitted to educate.Thankfully the state has stopped short of listening to the likes of you, and ANYONE is free to educate their children as they see fit, or perhpas you know better than the Govt advisors on Education? I imagine you think you do.
No-one would have objected to a reasoned opinion from you, but your arrogant attack was exactly that, ill thought out, ignorant and self satisfied, demonstrating not one iota of knowledge or common sense on the subject.
I'm thinking you may be a teacher, so absurd are your claims and desperte your arguments against what is a fundamental right of parents, to parent and educate their child to the best of their abilities.
My eight year old does Latin because that is her specific interest, and she is approaching what would have been old O level standard. She is not hot housed but is self regulating and under no pressure whatsoever to perform to a certain standard, ( that is one of the main reasons that I withdrew my children from school). I find it amazing that people like you condemn something out of hand without knowing the facts of anything.
No-one would have objected to a reasoned opinion from you, but your arrogant attack was exactly that, ill thought out, ignorant and self satisfied, demonstrating not one iota of knowledge or common sense on the subject.
I'm thinking you may be a teacher, so absurd are your claims and desperte your arguments against what is a fundamental right of parents, to parent and educate their child to the best of their abilities.
My eight year old does Latin because that is her specific interest, and she is approaching what would have been old O level standard. She is not hot housed but is self regulating and under no pressure whatsoever to perform to a certain standard, ( that is one of the main reasons that I withdrew my children from school). I find it amazing that people like you condemn something out of hand without knowing the facts of anything.
NikkiB what qualifications do you have to make those comments? Do you work with Home Schooled Children? Have you any experience of Alternative forms of Education? I'm wondering if you are either an old fashioned Education Psychologist, an Education Welfare Officer or a Head Teacher who has 'issues' with Home Schooling.
I've been working in a Government funded education research project for the past 5 years, and have a lot of experiences of the legal and educational aspects of Alternatives to main stream education etc.
Traditional main-stream education in the UK is failing our children - there is NO doubt about this and I am not prepared to justify this comment! If you don't believe me read up some of the Research.
Also, a huge amount of children do not fit into the strict 'one size fits all' (and incredible limited curriculum) form of education that is provided by UK Schools.
Forcing Children to access an inappropriate form of education can have massive long-term repercussions for them as well as their familes.
I have daily contact with Children educated at Home and have rarely encountered children with 'remedial levels of social interaction' (what an unpleasant and insulting way you have phrased that!). The children that do have social problems would have social problems whether they were in Main stream or not. In fact, main stream would have made their problems worse, not better.
The Parents that choose to Home Educate or access alternative forms of education should be applauded! not criticised by someone who uses 'few cases' as examples of why parents shouldn't do something.
Why not answer Sherradk's question about the rules rather than trying to force your own opinion onto people?
please see Part 2 ...
I've been working in a Government funded education research project for the past 5 years, and have a lot of experiences of the legal and educational aspects of Alternatives to main stream education etc.
Traditional main-stream education in the UK is failing our children - there is NO doubt about this and I am not prepared to justify this comment! If you don't believe me read up some of the Research.
Also, a huge amount of children do not fit into the strict 'one size fits all' (and incredible limited curriculum) form of education that is provided by UK Schools.
Forcing Children to access an inappropriate form of education can have massive long-term repercussions for them as well as their familes.
I have daily contact with Children educated at Home and have rarely encountered children with 'remedial levels of social interaction' (what an unpleasant and insulting way you have phrased that!). The children that do have social problems would have social problems whether they were in Main stream or not. In fact, main stream would have made their problems worse, not better.
The Parents that choose to Home Educate or access alternative forms of education should be applauded! not criticised by someone who uses 'few cases' as examples of why parents shouldn't do something.
Why not answer Sherradk's question about the rules rather than trying to force your own opinion onto people?
please see Part 2 ...
I'm on a roll here guys ... sorry about this! :-)
In the UK all Children are entitled to receive an education 'suitable' to their needs.
There is NO law that that says that education has to come from a School.
The only other thing I would say is . . . If you think/know that Traditional Schooling isn't suitable for your childs needs, before taking a child 'off roll' from School to Home Educate investigate alternative forms of education first.
The regulations have recently changed in the UK, and this now means that each school now receive a certain amount of money per child (called an AWPU).
It is up to the School to FIND AND PROVIDE a suitable form of education for your Child! They have the Money! Get the School to investigate alternatives (there are alternatives available regardless of what the School says!)
Once all other forms are exhausted, and you are sure that you want to Home Educate, then you should remove the Child from the School Roll.
so ... Sherradk if you need further help please let me know. The Education Otherwise web-site is pretty good and should provide almost all the legal info you need.
If you need advice on how to deal with Council Officials who oppose you or other people who make negative comments, please let me know! I've been dealing with this sort of thing for years ....
In the UK all Children are entitled to receive an education 'suitable' to their needs.
There is NO law that that says that education has to come from a School.
The only other thing I would say is . . . If you think/know that Traditional Schooling isn't suitable for your childs needs, before taking a child 'off roll' from School to Home Educate investigate alternative forms of education first.
The regulations have recently changed in the UK, and this now means that each school now receive a certain amount of money per child (called an AWPU).
It is up to the School to FIND AND PROVIDE a suitable form of education for your Child! They have the Money! Get the School to investigate alternatives (there are alternatives available regardless of what the School says!)
Once all other forms are exhausted, and you are sure that you want to Home Educate, then you should remove the Child from the School Roll.
so ... Sherradk if you need further help please let me know. The Education Otherwise web-site is pretty good and should provide almost all the legal info you need.
If you need advice on how to deal with Council Officials who oppose you or other people who make negative comments, please let me know! I've been dealing with this sort of thing for years ....
Let's hope you do rest your case NikkyB, as you certainly have nothing worthy to say, and I'm glad you finally realise it.
Thanks Morticiah, superbly put.
We unenrolled our children because the teachers seemed unable to grasp the simplest things, like my elder deaf son needing to be faced when the teachers were talking to him, because he couldn't lip read with their backs to him.
It's not rocket science to understand something as fundamentally simple as that really is it? He was failing miserably because of this alone. We home schooled and he went on to complete a degree course last year, which he would never have accomplished had he been left to fend for himself in the educational wilderness.
Thanks Morticiah, superbly put.
We unenrolled our children because the teachers seemed unable to grasp the simplest things, like my elder deaf son needing to be faced when the teachers were talking to him, because he couldn't lip read with their backs to him.
It's not rocket science to understand something as fundamentally simple as that really is it? He was failing miserably because of this alone. We home schooled and he went on to complete a degree course last year, which he would never have accomplished had he been left to fend for himself in the educational wilderness.
sherrardk...noxlumos and morticah put it all better than i ever could, but as you can see from the post of nikkib it isnt always easy to convince people that you are doing the right thing and noxlumos may be right in his opinion that nikkib may be a teacher, she certainly comes across as having that mentality...school is needed for children to learn to interact socially etc.I havea friend whose nephew was home tutured from the age of 11, he's now a gp and my own niece was home educated from the age of 12.She is now 22 and has travelled to quiet a few countries,studied drama and dance at college and performed in front of 100's of people.In both cases they were taken out of school because they COULDNT interact socially.All the so called experts said that they would grow up to be withdrawn,introverted,friendless and pooly educated.Wrong on all accounts.In the summer months me and my son go absailing, mountain climbing, cycling,and exploring museums in various cities (as well as academic work) while school kids get fat sitting doing work that bores the pants off them and will probably serve them no use in life.I dont know nikkib but I know that attitude anywhere.The attitude of " I had to endure school so everone else should" If we were all totally honest, how many of us would REALLY want to go through that again?
Hi Wizard and Nox ... Unfortunately the response from NikkiB is the kind of thing that I see on a daily basis. One of the reasons I do my job is because I strongly believe that everyone is entitled to access an appropriate education tailored to their own needs! (I think it's called Equal Ops NikkiB)
Some people do not want to even think about the fact that the traditional mainstream school education doesn't work for all of our children.
It's really unfortunate that, at the moment, our education system cannot cope with children that don't fit into the Government generic School idea of how they should receive an education (i.e. Teacher coaching them to pass exams, rather than facilitating Independant learning). Ask any honest Teacher!
Most Teachers try hard, but they are so constrained by large class sizes and huge amounts of paperwork plus an overly strict curriculum which doesn't support Independant learning of any kind etc etc., they can barely cope with the so called 'normal' child.
If, for whatever reason a child opts out of main stream education, ANY education is better than nothing!
The new Government legislation, which I'm proud to have contributed to, should mean that Schools have no choice than to provide an 'alternative' - though Parents will probably have a fight on their hands to get this.
I believe that the current Education system in the UK is going to change - and hopefully this will mean that every child (and Adult) will be supported and able to receive the kind of ability appropriate education (whether vocational or academic) that they deserve, and are entitled to.
OK - rant over now guys! apologies!!!
Some people do not want to even think about the fact that the traditional mainstream school education doesn't work for all of our children.
It's really unfortunate that, at the moment, our education system cannot cope with children that don't fit into the Government generic School idea of how they should receive an education (i.e. Teacher coaching them to pass exams, rather than facilitating Independant learning). Ask any honest Teacher!
Most Teachers try hard, but they are so constrained by large class sizes and huge amounts of paperwork plus an overly strict curriculum which doesn't support Independant learning of any kind etc etc., they can barely cope with the so called 'normal' child.
If, for whatever reason a child opts out of main stream education, ANY education is better than nothing!
The new Government legislation, which I'm proud to have contributed to, should mean that Schools have no choice than to provide an 'alternative' - though Parents will probably have a fight on their hands to get this.
I believe that the current Education system in the UK is going to change - and hopefully this will mean that every child (and Adult) will be supported and able to receive the kind of ability appropriate education (whether vocational or academic) that they deserve, and are entitled to.
OK - rant over now guys! apologies!!!
Hi Sherrardk, YOU didn't wind anybody up!
have you spoken to an Education Welfare Official, .... some of them can be really helpful, some are truly dreadful. Does your child attend School at the moment? if so, the School might have someone who can advise you.
I guess it really depends on why you are thinking about Home Educating ... I'm more than happy to help, but don't want to pry (particularly on a public web-site!).
Just remember that Home Educating isn't the only option, if necessary there are alternatives that Schools can provide for you. You just have to kick up a bit of a fuss, and state your childs legal right to a 'suitable' education.
If you do choose to Home Educate and you are concerned/lacking in confidence, then join Education Otherwise and they will provide you with a support network.
I know that you want to do the best thing for your child!
with best wishes, Mort
have you spoken to an Education Welfare Official, .... some of them can be really helpful, some are truly dreadful. Does your child attend School at the moment? if so, the School might have someone who can advise you.
I guess it really depends on why you are thinking about Home Educating ... I'm more than happy to help, but don't want to pry (particularly on a public web-site!).
Just remember that Home Educating isn't the only option, if necessary there are alternatives that Schools can provide for you. You just have to kick up a bit of a fuss, and state your childs legal right to a 'suitable' education.
If you do choose to Home Educate and you are concerned/lacking in confidence, then join Education Otherwise and they will provide you with a support network.
I know that you want to do the best thing for your child!
with best wishes, Mort
ive read all the letters with interest my youngest child i had to take out of school through illness she was 12 at the time its not a thing that should be done with no thought and most parents would think about it before doing it. myself I had help from a private tutor for two hours a week in maths as i wasent that good myself and when she became old enough i had help from local college where at the age of 15 she passed most of her exams i worked very hard and so did she and she was relaved of a lot of tension which school brought at the time. but i can say with all honesty nothing replaces and envirement with other children and adults eventually she had to go out into the workd and this made it twice as hard i felt gulty since at times although at the time i did not have a alternative. she is well ajusted now with three children who all are going to school. we all need other people to get on in this life and children do like to be the same as the kid next door.
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