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

Thankyou so much this is really helpful. I think some people may not understand but we’ve had a dreadful time we’ve always tried to stick to a recognised path of learning but her health needs have been overwhelming and got progressively worse so that’s been our priority. I’m trying my best it’s just been so incredibly difficult.

@SpidersAreShitheads That’s fine and no one is saying home education has to look just like school. But OP herself said her DD is especially bright. It’s a lazy assumption to claim that others just don’t get it if they disagree with you. It is my opinion that she should have given her DD the chance to take exams. Sorry that you find that so objectionable. Her DD’s situation sounds very similar to mine as a teenager and I would have been furious in retrospect if my parents had just dropped exams and seen them as unimportant. If a child is bright then they are quite important for the future.

Her daughter is only 16, she has plenty of time to take exams if she wants to.

@littleluncheon She has time, absolutely, but she is apparently year twelve so has already not taken GCSEs with her cohort. Again, that is okay but not even having looked into it until now is letting down a bright child.

I mentioned an EHCP not in relation to EHE but because the OP would then be able to pursue EOTAS/EOTIS (with the C on the end if her LA is that way inclined) if she wants - not just for academics but it could also enable DD to receive therapeutic provision she wouldn’t otherwise receive. Although a minority of LAs will occasionally give a small PB to a minority of DC with EHCPs who are EHE. Quite uncommon, but it does occasionally happen.

@verysmellyjelly There are comments on this thread that suggested that OP is failing her child because she’s not doing exams at age 16, plus comments about only approved exam courses being accepted as education.

So no, not lazy at all. I’m basing my comments on what people have literally written.

I haven’t looked closely at exams because neither of mine would be capable. One never will be and one MIGHT manage functional skills in the future. But it’s only a faint possibility, and certainly not yet. However I’m extremely active within our local home ed community, and I met with our MP last week over the upcoming schools bill. And yet, I’ve never heard of the possibility of invigilators at home! The LA has never mentioned it to any of us - and when our local group was searching for local exam centres, the possibility never arose. Our nearest exam centre is a bit of a distance and we have a couple of children that can’t travel at all. One of those parents is an ex-teacher and was also on the local advisory board with the LA - and she still doesn’t know about home invigilators! I’m going to mention it to her at our home ed meet-up this afternoon.

My point is, suggesting that the OP has somehow let her child down because she didn’t know about home invigilators is a lazy accusation. Her child barely leaves the house and OP says that she ensures she is being well-educated. It really, really doesn’t matter if she takes her exams a bit later.

Not every home educating parent would have chosen that route, given the option. Sometimes there is simply no choice because of the education system failing children, especially those with SEN. In those circumstances, the parent just has to do their best and it’s bloody hard. Kicking a parent because they didn’t know about home invigilators is shitty.

LAs shouldn’t be relied upon for accurate information! Not all exam centres offer it and those that do only have a limited capacity for it. One example of a group who offer it is Tutors and Exams but there are others. Remote invigilation is also possible.

@SpidersAreShitheads I fully respect your judgment as to your own children, obviously. I am only basing my comments on what OP’s done, and what she hasn’t done, on her own description of her child’s capabilities. She herself has said her child is very bright. No, it’s certainly not the end of the world to take exams later, but it is a shame not to have looked into it sooner to at least give the child the opportunity to take exams more promptly. OP claims they finished the GCSE content, and that would have been a good time to take the exams in at least some subjects. It disadvantages her child to delay taking them for a protracted period and potentially have to relearn the content later.

Not being able to leave the house doesn’t mean a child can’t take exams or is less academically capable. Again, I’m speaking from direct personal experience. Some of my times of greatest academic development happened when I wasn’t leaving the house due to illness.