Government informant poster on the school bullitin board

[colditz]

"If there is a child who doesn't seem to be educated, report this to xxxx number" - picture of uniformed children clutching bookbags

I couldn't believe it. Not "A child who seems to be abused" or "A child who seems to be neglected" - but basically, a home schooled child. They want people to report the parents of children who don't attend school.

Have we slipped into George Orwell's 1984?

I am tempted to blutak a poster up of Big Brother Is Watching You (the original.)

ARGGHHH....so we worry about the wording of the poster...not about the kids who are not educated (either at school or home)?

Of course we worry about children whose parents are denying them an education, what a bizarre view to take.

I think its a "good thing" there are always plenty of discussions on here about people who don't appear to school their children or send them to school!

I would have used this number about 3 years ago, my neighbours cleaning lady always had her 12 year old daughter with her, who "didn't like school".

Not educating your children can be indicative of negligent parenting.

From what is described in the OP the issue of homeschoolimg would not have crossed my mind. I would assume it to be about looking out for children who are not being educated at all.
I don't think there is much point saying 'watch out for neglected children' as everyone has a different idea of what that means. By giving a specific example I would imagine they are hoping to trigger some reports from people thinking 'oh I know someone like that'. It makes the issue simple for people.

Don't you have to let the LA know when you choose to educate other than at school?

If so then surely if you had concerns, you'd ring the LA and say "Little Johnny Baggs never goes to school" and they would very quickly check the register and see immediately if little Johnny was registered as home educated - if so, no problem, if not - further enquiries?

I don't see the problem to be honest. If people ARE educating otherwise then they've nothing to worry about. And if they're not, then the LA has a statutory duty to try and identify and reach them.

Casserole, if your child has never been to school, the LA are unlikely to know about them unless the parents choose to inform them. There is no legal requirement.