Reporting concerns about a homeschooled child

[Roosterbooster99]

Does anyone know how I’d go about this? Apparently the system has changed and the authorities will act. The child in question isn’t actually being taught anything and is almost at secondary age and can’t read or write or do basic maths.

Do you know for certain that the child isn’t being taught anything or is this hearsay? Do they have any SEND which would somehow prevent them from being able to read and write at 11?

If you have genuine, first-hand concerns about this then contact your Elective Home Education Officer at the Local Authority where the child lives. They may not do anything if they have previously had evidence that the child is being educated. However, since the guidance changed fairly recently, the LA will have a duty to investigate this report to the best of their ability.

My middle DS will be at secondary school in a couple of years, he still can’t read or write and he goes to school... don’t judge just because you think they should be able to by that stage.

But possibly not for much longer

Ds lost a year of school..

It's a shame you didn't bother to learn about H.ed, because you can't lose a year of school if you aren't there, and receiving an education otherwise.
That's like saying they missed however many years of Home education.

(And before I get judged and jumped on, he’s severely dyslexic and has trouble with his short term memory converting to long term)

I also place these children into school regularly.

There will be more to this and you will be using other avenues.

My middle DS will be at secondary school in a couple of years, he still can’t read or write and he goes to school.

Is there something missing here, as in your child has additional needs, is this the point you’re making?

If this child has no additional needs and is illiterate, then something needs to be done and the op is right. She should not be scared to do so just in case there are additional needs. Because if there isn’t then this child is being seriously neglected and someone needs to help.

I can’t believe people are saying butt out just in case.

If there are no special needs, I would agree that this is neglectful. I think there are probably children who are not educated at home. It is something that the government is turning a blind eye to. It is awful.

@0963158b

I also place these children into school regularly.

There will be more to this and you will be using other avenues.

Other avenues?

It's possible they are being unschooled. It's not illegal. I think their particular abilities (SEND) and what they are learning would need to be taken into account. Lots of home educated children do learn to read later and completely catch up going from no reading ability to Harry Potter in a year. But if he isn't being given any learning opportunities, contact the council's EWO.

There is a big difference between acting in good faith and acting on gossip or opinion.

Sorry for derailing a bit but what happens at the end of home schooling? How do the children acquire recognised qualifications to get jobs?

Let's stop judging parents. Perhaps they are working from home to put food on the table
If a child has a safe space, food, a bed and an adult who loves them that is enough at the moment

Sorry for derailing a bit but what happens at the end of home schooling? How do the children acquire recognised qualifications to get jobs?

My son had to do a maths and English test at the college, as he didnt have school exams, and is due to start attending there, after passing the tests. He will get qualifications he needs for the job he wants to do from there.

If a child doesn't pass the maths and English tests and wish to get into college they have access courses they can do, which will hopefully enable them to pass the tests the following year.

That's how it works in my area anyway.

harryharry

They take GCSE's, A levels, or any recognised alternative if they wish.
Many go to colleges and universities, some go into trades, just like schooled children.
I no longer H.ed but my cousins children will do Maths and English GCSE and then choose their own route.
One is quite academic the other more practical.
Some children specialise in their chosen subject quite young.
They can also choose from any subject offered, unlike schools that offer the bare minimum.

HarryHarry some schools, often private schools, accept independent candidates for exams.

Anyway, OP, do you know this child is illiterate and innumerate? Because mine would pretend not to know 1+1 or SATPIN words if he thought some busybody was trying to test him

Ds missed a year of education - splitting hairs when it was clear what I meant.
Imo.
I even included a letter from ds stating exh printed off work he found online to pass off as ds's..
And bought bakery items to pass off as ds's...
A screwed up situation..

stripey Yes. You don't have the legal powers to do what you're claiming you do unless there are other aspects to these scenarios. It's scary that you're pretending otherwise.

Also... There are a great many children in the UK who are receiving an education that no government school would give and there's not a thing you can do about it... If there was, they would probably be in school. And they're not.

Sorry for derailing a bit but what happens at the end of home schooling? How do the children acquire recognised qualifications to get jobs?

They can enter for the same examinations taken in schools, and use those qualifications to enter university or undertake other training for a career.