To think a lot of children won't be going back to school?

[DearLiza]

Most people I know, with some exceptions, have been saying how much their primary-school aged children are enjoying being off. I gather they're doing a limited amount of academic work though. It got me thinking, if there is at least one SAHP in the household, maybe some people won't send their children back in when the time comes. What do you think?

Yes, this is much the same for my eldest child who is in year 8. We printed off all information and corresponding worksheets so that my DC would not be looking at a screen all day. I am referring to 'online' lessons via Edtech, I won't let him use some of them as it is too much screen time.

@Devlesko what would be so wrong in someone physically coming and speaking to you and the child? A letter is a waste of paper as a parent can just lie on it, sounds more like the NHS 2 year checklist I received for DD instead of a physical check up.

I don’t mind if a parent teaches other topics in history than a school would do in the same year group. Or reads different books or does science in another way. But I think there should be a duty to show that an education is provided,

reluctant

Because presently, nobody has the right to physically come round.
There is no way they could determine progress as H.ed children can study what they like. The only History my dd was interested in was Music and Black History, due to her love of Jazz.
She didn't do Geography, RE, Science, or NC Languages. Year groups don't exist as it has nothing to do with schooled systems, that's the joy. Schools teach for SATS, a very narrow curriculum, that doesn't appeal to many. It's lovely for them to choose what they want to learn, and for how long, at a depth that suits them.

@Goldenbear I believe the study looks at schools that are "requiring" online lessons ( typically secondary, but many primaries too). Schools are then contacting students / parents that have not accessed the lessons b/c schools have a legal "duty of care" for their students (& want them to access education). Statistically, the majority of those not accessing the lessons are from deprived households ( unlike your situation which is more of a "choice" ).

Mine are getting on my nerves a bit but I won’t be sending them back to school if they open soon - not unless things are drastically different to now. I’ll see how things are in September.

@Devlesko - and see, here is where I do have a problem. As a parent I do have the duty to educate a wide range of subjects and enable my child to have a broad knowledge of the world. For me, uncontrolled Home Education is against this duty.

I think we better agree to disagree before we sideline the discussion anymore.

I'm a SAHM and my son 6 is flourishing being home schooled - his teacher agrees - as he has difficulty focussing for extended periods when it comes to writing anything - I've managed to help him as he's being "taught" 1:1 which really benefits him with his writing. I would love to continue to home school him and both he and DH agree, but - the only reason I won't is because he's an only child - and that's not fair on him as he's very sociable and confident.

@VenusTiger, if that is your only concern then you might consider looking into home ed a bit more and talking to local families who do it. In most areas there are many opportunities (when not in lockdown obviously!) for socialising. That was actually one of the main reasons I didn't send my eldest to school: I thought she was too social for school! She wanted to chat and play ALL day, not just at designated "playtime". She wanted to have friends of all ages, not just the ones in her year group. She wanted to have long conversations with adults as well as with children. She wanted time to do things with one or two friends for hours on end free of the distractions of a large group setting.

Home ed met her social needs brilliantly. She was always in and out of friends' houses and off at various after-school activities. She's now 20 and came out of it well.

Home education for your son might look very different from what you imagine!

I don't think some parents realise the commitment that real home schooling is. I know many are being sent work too, even at primary level.

"Real" home-schooling is a LOT different from what parents are being asked to do at the moment.
All the parents I know are FULLY intending to send their kids back to school, as soon as it's safe to do so. Whether the children "like" being at home is an irrelevance.

@pollymere
@zingally

There are fully online schools in the UK, so in homeschooling you would be sent work too

There are fully online schools in the UK, so in homeschooling you would be sent work too

You could be, if you chose to go down that home schooling route.
If I was to home educate, it wouldn’t be to teach them other people’s content... I wouldn’t really see the point. They could go to school for that.

@annamaria14

Ah... but I suspect many have rosy images of creating lessons themselves. And those online courses are very expensive when compared to the free education they get from school. I also suspect that children who are not worrying about their teacher being disappointed might not work quite as well. Homeschooling is great for some, but it's definitely not the easy option and current events are not really showing the reality. I know that currently the focus is more that children get some work done if they can but not to worry too much (other than Y10 and 12) but with true homeschooling, you'd need to ensure work was actually being done to give your child the education they deserve.

"Real" home-schooling is a LOT different from what parents are being asked to do at the moment.

This ^^ what is happening now is not homeschooling, and with the best intentions many are doing more harm to their children's education.

what is happening now is not homeschooling, and with the best intentions many are doing more harm to their children's education

In what way?

It’s hardly home schooling though right now. Think people will have a nasty shock if they do choose to home educate when schools reopen without any help or guidance off their kids teachers.

God no, send them back!

What a lot of dramatic bollocks on this thread.

On the one hand, you have a bunch of people who seem to think that only a teacher is capable of affording a child a satisfactory education.

On the other, you have a bunch of people who educate their children at home who seem to think that other parents - those others who send their children to school - couldn't possibly afford their own children a satisfactory education at home in the way that they do.

Both have a highly limited view about what these other parents are doing when they teach their children. Both have a highly inflated sense of the dire consequences that will result. Both seem have a highly prescriptive view of how a child should be taught. Both seem to be equally scathing about the ability of the average parent to educate their children.

Bollocks to the lot of you. You are both the same.

Gawdsake

I do agree with this. As a H.educator you are completely on your own as far as support or teaching materials are concerned.
You find your own resources and are completely deregistered from the LA. You find your own way, some people follow a curriculum and some don't.
You can allow whatever subjects they choose to learn, at a pace and depth that suits them.
Completely different to schools, you have no inspections, no SATS, nobody to report to. Although it's advisable to reply if contacted.

I don't think what kids are getting from school atm is anything like H.education, they are still under the policies and procedures of the LA, it's school but at home.
This isn't home education. The two are completely different.
However, one isn't better than the other, of course.

As a parent I do have the duty to educate a wide range of subjects and enable my child to have a broad knowledge of the world. For me, uncontrolled Home Education is against this duty.

Good for you. As a parent I too had the duty to educate a wide range of subjects, and enable my child to have a broad knowledge of the world.
I totally agree, uncontrolled education is against this duty.
I'm wondering why you thought we'd differ.
It was certainly a good enough education to gain entry to an elite ss school, for the exceptionally gifted.

One of my family home schooled her DC.

While it worked well when he was primary school age as he got older it became more difficult, particularly in rebellious teens. Ps not academic or particularly well educated so maths/languages/science was barely touched. They did use online material, but my impression was that structure was missing. Interests need to be encouraged, but some basics have to be addressed.

DC never learned to cope with everyday social life, being aware of other people and their needs. He did join a football club, but stopped going. He is what I would call socially incompetent, unable to initiate conversations and uncomfortable in company. I think he's quite lonely

DC eventually went to a college on a course specially set up for home schooled children. He didn't take most subjects, failed maths (badly) twice, although he did pass English, and did well at domestic science (home technology). He's good with computers, I don't know if that's just games.

There were annual visits from the council, but possibly not looking in any depth.

I guess this one of the saddest scenarios, but probably not unlikely. IMO DC will find it difficult to find employment, or to keep it. Sad because he's bright. I also think that he's going to have a hard time socially.

I feel his life has been badly skewed. Hopefully he can overcome this.

I don't think what kids are getting from school atm is anything like H.education, they are still under the policies and procedures of the LA, it's school but at home.

The work that the school sends through to parents is 'school work at home' but parents aren't standardised automatons that power down when the limited school work is complete. People are at home with their children doing all sorts of things that extend beyond this work.

Nousually - how sad. My youngest is in his final secondary school year (A Levels cancelled). I always think people who smugly state their children thrive when being HS are misguided themselves.

Their children are going to have to go into the world of work. They need to have social interaction and get used to rubbing along and working with other people. For some HS will leave large gaps and they will fall dreadfully behind.

I am not a supporter and having seen my child's past papers on Biology and Maths in recent days - well - I hardly understood the question let alone the answer!!! If he knows how to answer these questions - well the school (private boarding) has done a fab job!

in what way

Well you have a load of people claiming to be homeschooling who have no training or even basic understanding of how to educate a child usually the type who don't know the difference between there/their/they're or been/being but fully intend to send them back to formal school with incorrect techniques, understanding or methods which teachers will have to break down and start over with. This sets the child back.

These 'homeschoolers' for the most part haven't bothered to research even the basic principles, unlike genuine home educators.

FWIW I'm not a HE, my dd goes to a state school. I have complete respect for teachers and HEs alike and hold my hands up that without the teachers guidance I wouldn't know where to start with keeping dd on track.

It's like everything else, no one size fits everybody.
If you can access the most suitable education for your child/ren, then you are lucky, whatever that system or lack of system may be.
This lockdown will give more parents greater choice in how their children are educated.
There is no better way, just what is suitable for the child. If they thrive or get the support they need, where is the problem?