So.....had our LEA visit today and......

[becaroo]

........it went really well!

The chap was very nice, very approachable and really seemed to understand why we now HE our ds1. He kept apologising for the experiences we have had with the school!

He really engaged with ds1 - they got talking about Chile and alpacas!!??? - and he seemed genuinely interested in him and his learning.

I have to admit to being very pleasantly surprised!

Anyway, at the end of the meeting he said "this is normally where I make suggestions for improving the learning experience but in this case there is nothing I can add. You are doing a great job"

Ds1 is still adamant that he does not want to go to Juniors in september so guess what....hes not going!!!! I know I only planned to do this til september but it feels so right for us at the moment and ds1 is so happy and making progress so why rock the boat? On a completely selish level, I would miss him so much if he went back to school!

One thing he did say which puzzled me was that the "new" laws which may be coming into effect (i.e. the badman recommendations???) will mean more resources for HEers/free GCSE exams????...I didnt comment at the time as it was the end of the meeting and ds1 was anxious to get to his swimming lesson but I wondered what you all thought of that??? Is that right??

x

[musicposy]

Glad it went so well, becaroo! Our LA man who sees my teenage DD is also lovely, very supportive and helpful.

Glad you are so enjoying the HE experience and that your DS and you are wanting to continue! I'm sure you'll have lots of enjoyment ahead!

One of the better (or only good) things about the badman review was that it was suggested that home educators need better access to exam centres/ resources etc. But that bit was virtually brushed under the carpet by the govt under the banner of "not enough cash to do it", despite the fact that all the monitoring etc they are proposing will cost ££££££s. So I think a lot of home educators aren't exactly holding their breath on this one! Plus, it isn't law yet (and a lot of people are fighting it). But, speaking as someone who has spent about £200 on GCSE entry fees alone this year (a long way off for you yet!), such help would be very welcome - as long as it isn't attached to hundreds of strings....

[julienoshoes]

"such help would be very welcome - as long as it isn't attached to hundreds of strings..."

Does the Pope have a balcony?
Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back?

shakes head come on musicposy, you have been round long enough now.


Help without strings ain't going to happen.

In fact help/support as suggested by the OP's LA man, ain't likely to happen either.

As Lord Lucas stated, they are prepared to spend so very much on monitoring us, but not a scrap of the money is going to help us, there is no mention of such support in the Bill.

Besides which it seems that the Government have run out of time to change the law of Home Education.
It was debated at second reading, in the House of Lords on Monday night and
"A number of peers made reference to the fact that the Bill will not reach Committee stage, ie the Government has run out of time. The opposition front bench has already made it quite clear that the home education parts of the Bill will not survive the wash up"

[musicposy]

I know you are right, Julie! I know that if free access to exam centres comes off, our results and outcomes will be tested and monitored, just like in school. I also know that the money will go on the monitoring and not where it would be genuinely useful. It's nice to dream, though!

It's good if they run out of time, I hadn't heard that. The bill is so rushed and so badly thought out and wrong in every respect...thank goodness for that. Lets hope they don't get back in again (and I was a labour supporter for years but no more!).

[julienoshoes]

I think a great number of us previously Labour party voters are re thinking their voting practice. they have certainly lost this 'Worcestershire woman'!

[MathsMadMummy]

Wow becaroo that's great! Really happy for you both that it went so well.

[becaroo]

Thanks MMM!

Julie I cannot believe I am seriously considering voting tory And I considered myself a scoialist at 17!!!!

Really good news re: the wash up....I hadnt heard that. I am now worried what will happen if labour get back in though

I just wanted to post my experience with the LEA as I know some people have had very negative experiences and I wanted to give hope!!!!

[MathsMadMummy]

"As Lord Lucas stated, they are prepared to spend so very much on monitoring us, but not a scrap of the money is going to help us, there is no mention of such support in the Bill."

julie you make a good point... I was reading about legal aspects of HE last night and there was info about how the LA can get involved if "the child is not reaching their academic potential". FFS, how many children attending school are not reaching their academic potential? Why not focus on them a bit more?

sorry for hijack