Meeting LA

[1099]

Hi;
Have recently deregistered DS from school in order to HE. Have, as expected received a letter from LA asking to meet at our home next week to discuss our plans. I know we don't have to do this but was wondering if anyone can give me pros and cons.

[NK346f2849X127d8bca260]

I refuse, as do many home edders.
I didn't want a stranger visiting, they are not qualified to give educational help and I felt I could get all the info from Internet, HE/FB groups. My daughter has a PTSD diagnosis and I wouldn't be comfortable if that was discussed.

[socksonradiator]

Hi 1099,

We've had a few visits over the past 8yrs and though we've never had any issues with our LEA, I can honestly say that we've never found the visits useful.

If your LEA is like ours (Kent), their department is overstretched and you'll probably see a different person each time they visit. With our eldest, I thought they might come in handy for reintegration back into mainstream for 6th form, but we didn't need their help.

They usually mean well but are rather out of touch with what's going on in the homeschooling community and I doubt they'll be able to tell you anything you haven't already learned from the internet and local homeschooling groups.

Basically they're coming to see if your version of 'a suitable education' matches theirs and that's (understandably) what upsets people. Having said that, I've had visits from some really lovely, laid-back LEA people in the past.

The bottom line is that you're not obliged to have a visit but if you'd feel better letting them come to keep their records straight like we do, then that's up to you too 😊