To think Home Education should be made illegal

[Viviennemary]

I would like to see a ban on HE except perhaps in a very very few cases and with good reason and under strict supervision.

Why?

Not until there is suitable SEN provision.

There might need to be more checks on children being home educated, but parents should have the right to decide on what setting is right for their child, including home education.

What would you consider good reasons?

Disagree.
But there should be a register and some level of oversight. Not detailed curriculum but that there is care and progression.

The government doesn't own people's children.

I home ed my youngest, what is it you object to?

edited bc i actually home ed my youngest, not the eldest

YABU.

Err…what?! Until mainstream schools get a lot more funding to improve, innovate, reduce staff to pupil ratios, and support ND children then this is a ridiculous thing to say IMO

Oh boy. Just wait till OP finds out about unschooling 😁

Parents are legally responsible for ensuring their children are educated. Allowing the state to take on that role, or taking it on themselves is their choice. Why does it matter to you?

Aside from any other issue with your suggestion (of which there are many), the government would never agree to it. They’d have to provide adequate SEND provision for the thousands of failed and traumatised children who are thriving whilst being H.E. It would cost millions.

I certainly think there should be regular checks and a minimum standard of education. I know many on here HE because they can’t get appropriate SEN provision, and that’s appalling and should be fixed. But there are also many who HE for religious reasons or worse, and those children need protection.

Why? I home educate 3dc, I would love to hear your relevant experience and knowledge around home education, I’m assuming you forgot to put it in your OP.

This would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. There are many excellent HE families supporting their children often when schools can't.

The case of Sara Sharif (if that's what has motivated your post) is being used to put forward a range of measures e.g. ban smacking, ban HE. While these things should be freely discussed, neither would have saved Sara. There were many more complex issues going on in her case.

This.

It's why many end up HE when they often hadn't planned to.

More oversight and support - well possibly - banning when school may be cause of huge distress to some SEN kids seem cruel.

I’m with you op for the majority of cases. Children miss out on so much by not attending school. They miss out on socialisation with other kids, the friendship bonds, experiences, school trips, social lives… not to mention there’s a hell of a lot of parents out there who are simply not qualified to be teaching the kids at home.

There’s some cases where I believe it’s necessary, but not the majority. and those where it is necessary should really be monitored to ensure the kids are actually learning and that it remains in their best interest

No, absolutely disagree. The government should safeguard children, not own them.

I do agree that there should be more oversight to ensure that all children are safeguarded, and given a basic level of education. If the school system, particularly SEN provision, was good enough, a large proportion of parents who currently home educate would not do so.

Yabvvvu. There would be greatly increased suicide and self harm rates from children who can’t cope with mainstream school but aren’t offered any appropriate other provision.

Agreed.

Are you saying that you don’t think children with disabilities should be able to access education settings?

I would suggest maybe this is a post in response to Sara Sherif and maybe most would agree that if a child is in the care of social services then home schooling shouldn’t be allowed as it isn’t to school kids it’s to hide them from society.

There is a big difference between dedicated homeschoolers and parents wanting to hide their children.

Is this Sara Sherif related?

Homeschooling was not the issue. She fell through many cracks, and a lot of abused children do go to school, and it’s still not flagged up. As someone who was personally returned to incapable and neglectful parents frequently, it happens a lot. If your children are removed, it should be much harder to get them back.

We have neither the capability nor the space to support all students needs.

Yabu and not understanding how badly covid effected children. There are a lot of children I know who are scared to go into school. They are being home educated. I seen the stress the parents been through. There should be more support for children who are home educated.