To ask what happens if you don't home school?

[Chalkcheese]

What does happen if you don't homeschool during lockdown? Is it mandatory? Is it enforceable? Could someone be reported to education welfare or social services? Or is it voluntary?

We have been told by our local authority to issue fines for non attendance!

I was wondering this just today because there are some kids who aren’t at school and aren’t on the zooms. Just wondering what the other option is!

How does that work with families who are working from home, using childcare bubbles or don't have devices though?

I'd like to know as well.... I have another thread on a similar theme - DS is refusing to engage with most of his work - whether live lessons or set work. (He is logging in for form though so attendance is fine) What happens now? I can't force him to sit at a desk and engage (well I can kind of force him to sit at a desk... but participate? No chance)

We’re doing about a third of online classes.. I emailed the teacher to give my reasons and let her know where we were up to with everything and she said she’d make the same decision in our case.. I wasn’t sure either whether it’s optional or not. Still not quite sure.
I mean if you are homeschooling numerous children who are too young to do so remotely independently and have other commitments, presumably you just can’t do it?

Primary or Secondary? I teach in a secondary where we are live streaming all of our lessons. Registers are taken and phone calls are made home to students who don't attend

Fines for non attendance! Omg some parents simply cant ! They have to work to keep a roof over their heads. Some families have 4,5,6 children. Some have to go out to see to animals, the list is endless. Only key workers and vulnerable in school here as it should be.

Primary personally, but my question was more general than my personal circumstances. Although our home school has been bloody unproductive so that's what started my thought trail.

I am a reception TA, and we have to make contact twice weekly to ensure kids are engaging. We are NOT checking up that work is done (even though parents think we are). We had one single child who did not respond to any calls or emails or engage with any work online, and the guidance is to do a welfare check. It was done and mum just realised, yeah okay, I have to respond and engage. This lockdown is much clearer that kids in school is NOT childcare but full time education, and home learning must be the same I think. Your child we be behind and not like the general behindness if they do no home school.

I was wondering this today as well as my dd refused but did attend in the end. I would be surprised if every school enforced it

The non attendance will be noted. Children who aren’t being supported at home will hopefully be offered a place in school, but some schools can’t safely offer enough places for all that need it.

With one lap top and 3 children scheduled to do zoom lessons at exactly the dark time, it’s simply not possible for them all to all the classes. The school can call all they want but unless they can magic up money for multiple devices it ain’t gonna happen.
And I wouldn’t pick up the phone anyway as I’m working so tough.

Same time. Not dark! Although dark seems appropriate

@Sarah180818 - what’s the logic behind live steaming all lessons? my DCs school is live-streaming all lessons and frankly it’s too much, even PE is via PowerPoint so opportunities for breaks and movement are really limited which impacts attention. teachers must be in a similar position and repeating teaching all over the place as well when they could probably usefully combine classes. Do teachers agree with this approach? Or is this a management decision?

I’m fortunate my DC are motivated so far but I’m sure it won’t last if this goes on til Easter - are schools considering the impact of constant live teaching? (On both staff and pupils?)

Wondered this myself. I am trying my best to home school my unfocussed 7 year old. WFH at the same time and I really feel like I am adding no value anywhere. My own work is falling behind / silly mistakes. I am rushing my son and sometimes telling him the answer so also not doing a great job of teaching him. I don't want him to fall behind though. Honestly I wish I could be furloughed but that's not possible because I'm a 'key worker.'

My brother is a teacher and some of his class have not been doing the online work or attending the zoom lessons he provides. The headteacher has said that they must now attend in person as the school has a legal obligation (unlike during the first lockdown) to provide each child with an education.

I think live streaming works better for secondary pupils. My older child's school is also doing live lessons and getting on better than he would if he was just set tasks because it's more like being at school.

Plenty of people known not to be doing it. It’s not mandatory. Nothing the school can do.

@spanieleyes We have been told by our local authority to issue fines for non attendance! that’s simply not true the law has been amended so it’s impossible to fine a parent. Would you like me to find the link?

Well, there's a mixed message going on then, because the KWV children who attend our school are not getting "full-time education."
They are supervised by TAs and given time and (minimal) support to access the tasks that those at home are doing also.
Any spare time is spent doing "fun" activities, as per childcare.

@Chalkcheese nothing will happen. The law requires schools to provide an education of at least three hours. A child does not need to complete the work.

Remote learning is mandatory and families are expected to ensure attendance online in the same way we are expected to ensure school attendance during "normal" times.

That said, there is not a court in the land that would convict for non-attendance at the moment, it would be too controversial and local authorities do not like controversy. They are unlikely to refer for fines without a solid case. This does not mean carte blanche for non-attendance, though, and parents must make all reasonable efforts to ensure children are attending all remote lessons.

If anyone, like the PP above, does not have enough devices for all children to be online at the same time, then school needs to know. Don't just dodge the phone calls, schools aren't mind readers and can't be expected to know your home set-up. Most schools I know have already done home IT audits where either you or your child (depending on age) would have completed a questionnaire about what tech is available at home, but not all have and yours might have no idea if you have 3 laptops or none. If you're struggling with IT for all children do talk to school as they may be able to offer a laptop loan, if you're lucky.

This is NOT like the March lockdown when education in England Wales was suspended and we were all meant to be baking and bike riding. Education is still taking place, it's just moved online, and attendance is still expected. It's a long, hard slog this time for all concerned and parents need to work with schools rather than against.

Our school takes a register at 8.45 and again at the beginning of each lesson. Parents whose children miss more than one or two lessons get called to check all is ok.

A friend on Facebook in Kent has been threatened with the attendance officer for the secondary school kids she is home schooling 5 kids with a baby and not enough devices for everyone.
If school do that to me after refusing her a key worker place I will tell them where to stick it.