To disagree with home ed

I do not disagree that the education system is not a good fit for very many, money is needed to sort a lot of it out, young ppl often have a lot of issues brought about by school and made worse by school, I totally understand in some circumstances time at home or alternative provision makes total sense. I was referring to the parents who "homeschool" to make their own lives easier but in reality no learning takes place at all. In these cases I think the children have had a disservice.

I completely agree that state oversight is needed from birth for all children, kind of what I’m arguing? Guess you don’t agree with the NSPCC despite your training then?

And it’s not a competition for numbers in abuse is it.

And what?

I do a fantastic job of HE and I do look out for the kids whose parents aren’t. I’ve worked in social care for many years and I’m about to qualify as a social worker. You don’t need to lecture me on the importance of safeguarding.

You have been the only person on this thread that has mentioned all children. It IS wearing to hear “but safeguarding” constantly aimed at the HE community when the same people shouting it aren’t quite so vocal about the kids (in school or not of school age) living in their own community who are at risk.

If state oversight is needed, it’s needed from birth for all children and obviously that will never happen. There have been a lot more cases of abused babies and toddlers than there has been of HE children. All children need protecting and it’s everyone’s responsibility.

Additionally how many children have died by suicide because of abuse they received at school? Far more than 6 a year would be my guess.

I wouldn't manage HE with my 2 but it's absolutely the least abusive choice for MANY children.

That doesn't include info on the actual cases.

I suspect they have included cases like Sara who had been failed for year while in school.

The school should have followed their legal duty and report concerns when she was a pupil and when she was removed.
The school would have had to complete paperwork to the LA stating concerns or no concerns. The LA and social services should have followed this up

Many cases blamed on home ed are cases already known to social services and social services have not done their job.

www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/may/15/vulnerable-children-in-england-safer-at-school-than-being-educated-at-home

My child had some time out (a couple of months) due to being unable to cope..
School had failed them for years and we had been fighting for support
When they returned to school - the promised support didn't materialise and despite the fact that they had been in school.strugglingnfor years before they crashed out. Those 2 months of home ed (which had saved their life) was the reason teachers thought they were struggling

Evidence of SEN, Evidence of anxiety and depression caused by school.jot meet need. But nope the LA and school opted to avoid providing an appropriate education and blame it on home ed.

In sure college will blame their difficulties on us having to home ed too

But it's far easier to blame a minority group than it is to look at the absolute disaster of the British school system.

I agree there are a lot of home ed's who are not able to give an sufficient education however, big caveat that I am currently (unwillingly) home educating, so I am glad it's an option.

The mainstream DS was in was not able to meet needs and were not providing the suport listed in his EHCP. He has developed PTSD from their treatment of him, but the LA won't have a more appropriate school place until September at the earliest. I don't know what I would do if I was forced to continue to send him to a place that was actively harming him.

What cases of abuse are documented linked to home ed?

I don't mean the cases like Sara - cases where social services have failed in their duty - and HE wasn't a factor

I mean actual children that are HE and no concerns were raised because of HE

Seen a lot of 16+ who then have to come into the system to attempt to get GCSEs to start preparing for the real world, some have actually been so neglected from an educational point of view but have honestly been so awe inspiring in catching up, absolutely amazing but parents didn't want to acknowledge it sadly.

Of course not.
The NSPCC has produced a well researched study and clearly recommended that Home education needs better oversight and safe guarding.
You can turn it into a silly argument if you like, I don’t think they are wrong.

Claiming to be great at HE and that your children are seen and not a safe guarding issue is not a reasonable argument about safeguarding generally even if it’s a reasonable argument for HE (which I don’t dispute). - it’s a bit stupid in fact.
Abuse and neglect, educational as well as otherwise, can happen across all those scenarios. Whether your kids need it or not is not really relevant to a bigger picture and social responsibility nationally
( in my opinion of course)
Outliers DO matter.

More children that are abused are school educated
Do you suggest that all parents should be monitored regularly evenings, weekends and holidays ?

I so get your concern and have thought similar. We’re doing home ed (at least for the first few years) and I’ve met a lot of home ed families in the last year (our city has a massive community) and some of them are doing a fantastic job, while some of them are concerning.
I think what people miss when they talk about parents assuming they can do the same job as a qualified teacher is 1) We do not assume we can do the same job 2) A loving parent teaching their child who they know deeply and love is not the same as a qualified, experience teacher managing and educating 25+ children in a classroom environment. I’ve met a lot of teachers in the home ed community who became parents and realised school is not somewhere they wanted their children to be.
I LOVED school, especially primary school, but school now is just not the same as it was 20 years ago.

If social services were properly funded and followed the policies and systems already in place then all children could be protected.

The LA can and already do monitor home ed families. Schools frequently fails SEN pupils with some missing years of education while the families fight for what the LA should be providing but aren't - nothing is done for these children because it is easier for the LA and school to abandon then. It is preferred by other parents that these children are abandoned so it doesn't disrupt or impact their child's education.

I guess it’s a good job it’s not up to you then OP.

My DS didn’t have ‘extreme needs’ but was unable to attend school during most of years 8 and 9 due to chronic stomach aches eventually put down to stress related IBS. He wanted to go to school but couldn’t. I home Ed in years 10 and 11. You don’t need to teach or have a masters to facilitate learning. We used online courses and resources and he sat 5 GCSE’s and went to college. He is now at uni and doing great. It was absolutely the best thing for him.

I have been in home ed groups over the years and the vast majority of parents are doing an amazing job home educating regardless of reason. Lots of home ed kids sit exams, go to uni, get jobs etc.

Oh and I am a single mum who worked full time from home. It’s doable especially with older children.

Totally agree.
The quiet children get left until last.
I would say most children don’t even get 5 minutes of 1 to 1 time per lesson. Essentially the class is given instruction by the teacher about a topic (who knows if they are paying attention) and then they get on with the work alone or in groups.

What kind of magic do the majority of posters on here think goes on in the classroom?

Why are you frustrated by the posts about people who home educate well??

Surely it’s advantageous to have a well balanced view about a topic you are discussing.

i know plenty more flakey and odd people
who give their kids a mainstream schooling education!

I’d go as far as to say most of the gen pop are odd!

For everyone frothing at the mouth about home education, do you feel as strongly about the state education system? Schools are producing children riddled with anxiety and behavioural issues. Bullying is rife in schools and teachers themselves are not always the finest examples of the English education system.

I completely agree. I’m not remotely academic. But my children are. One in particular is a boffin! He’s a highly respected robotics engineer. How on earth could I educate someone brainier than me? Makes no fucking sense.

Sure you know better than a big well referenced NSPCC study.
You’re right though I’m finding it frustrating and a bit sad so I’ll untwist my knickers now!

All these ‘I home educate and I’m fabulous at it’ posts are a bit frustrating.
There are a minority of HE scenarios where kids are at risk, just as they are in families where kids go to school. Issues such as safeguarding are not just about individuals - if you can’t get that maybe you really shouldn’t be home educating.

No one denies that the school system is really struggling. Doesn’t change the basic safeguarding issues across both scenarios.

The outliers should not be used as an example of home education. You're getting your knickers in knot over the minority. If more checks are required for home educated children then more checks need to be done on ALL children. Statistics are not very reliable if being used to stear thinking in a certain direction. The rise in home education is due to schools failing children everyday. Children not being able to tell the time in an traditional clock, not being able to read etc. It can't all be out in the parents of school children as to why they cannot do these things. Children are in school 6 hours a day. The teachers see them.more than their parents so why is nobody addressing the fact that the teachers are failing. Children get about 5 to 10 minutes of 1to1 teaching time oer leasson. Schools at the moment are not fit for purpose. TA teaching classes when no qualified teachers available