What do I say on UC journal about home educated dc and child element

[HomeEducate]

I know that I can get the child element till after dd 19th birthday but they want details of non advanced full time course but she is home educated (has always been) but what do I tell them ? It’s not clear

Just that? With the evidence of what ever body she's doing her exams with? How old is she?

Ask on a facebook group like HEFA or look on the Education Otherwise or Educational Freedom websites, you are unlikely to get knowledgeable advice here.

She isn’t doing any exams. We have a yearly inspection from the LA so do I show them that ? UC want specific course details of non advanced full time education but I can’t give that it’s just the same home education?
she is 16

Thankyou I will google that

Is she not working towards any formal qualifications as a private candidate?

If not, what would be the point of post 16 education?

No she’s not as can’t cope with examinations and can’t go out much but we are still making sure she is educated

Don't they have to be on an approved course of some sort to be counted as being in FT education post 16.

I assume that there are significant disabilities of some sort, given that she isn't pursuing any specific qualifications. Can you apply for DLA instead?

I will check as I’m really not sure. She already gets DLA (HRC and HRM) I get carers for her but it’s child benefit and child element that would be affected and I can’t afford to lose those

If there was a way for her to do GCSEs at home she would easily pass as is extremely intelligent but due to physical disabilities and ND I can’t get her to an exam centre I will see if there’s any way I can pay to get someone to come here perhaps to supervise GCSEs if that is a possibility I have no idea ??!

If she isn't working towards any specific exams or qualifications I don't know how you can prove she is being home educated now she is beyond statutory school age.
Could she not be working towards a qualification that isn't exam based. Online courses can be essay based. Would Open University count?

Can you talk to the local authority about options, OP? She has a right to an education regardless of her disability. They need to advise on what's available.

I will check as ideally if we could get some GCSEs done at home I know she would pass and ultimately I think she could do something working from home. I just don’t know if it’s possible to do exams in a private home ?

I don't know anything about this either, unfortunately. If not, it should be possible somehow to get her to some sort of exam centre that would be accessible for her. We can't just write kids off because of barriers that they may face.

I agree but I physically can’t get her out of the house and if I got someone to help me force her and restrain and carry her she would injure herself and others so it’s impossible. If I could get something home based I think she would have a good chance of doing very well

Of course, and even if you could get her out of the house by force, it doesn't sound like she would be in the frame of mind to sit an exam. It sounds difficult. I hope that you are able to find a solution.

Im assuming from your posts your DD is over over 16? Is she claiming PIP/UC for herself as a disabled adult now? That might make more sense than trying to keep getting child element?

@HomeEducate If she is 16 was was at school would she be in Year 11 or Year 12 (6th Form).
If Year 11 she is actually still of statutory school age until the end of June and you should still be entitled to the benefits until end of August.

Thankyou ❤️

Her dla award runs till the day before 17th birthday but I think we will be contacted soon to submit a PIP application but as it takes a while they start it right after turning 16 we also need a home visit for me to continue being an appointee

When ds was home educated I just said he was home educated at gcse level . But is behinde due to mental health issues. And ir was fine

You can take functional skills Maths & English at home with remote/online inviligation now. I think Level 2 is broadly equivalent to a GCSE pass, or at least some colleges will accept them as equivalent.
It's very common for ND home educated children to take functional skills instead of GCSE.

Sounds like you are quite isolated from the wider home ed community @HomeEducate and could do with some support?
Have you found your local home ed facebook group?

Try these sites too:
https://he-exams.fandom.com/wiki/HE_Exams_Wiki - information about studying for and sitting exams

https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/benefit-entitlement/ - child benefit

https://www.facebook.com/groups/615921129794035 - HEFA home ed support/advice group

Is it worth talking to your MP, @HomeEducate? It seems wrong that your dd would be unable to do any exams of she is capable of getting some GCSEs. As a society, we need to be supporting people to do what they are able to do, rather than putting barriers in their way.

Yes it is possible to sit GCSEs at home using an approved invigilator. Not cheap, but definitely possible.

How are you educating her if you are not following a syllabus? Do you just study whatever she is interested in? That must be very difficult. If she is following a syllabus or course, even without taking the exams, you could just put that.

I’ve been following the gcse syllabus for subjects when she was younger we also followed the national curriculum. I know you don’t have to but it’s what we are familiar with and we knew it could translate to standard qualifications (hopefully)