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Original poster

Is homeschooling compulsory?

144 replies

PumpkinP · 31/03/2020 14:30

So I was under the impression work sent home wasn’t compulsory, my ds try’s to do his work but for some reason the app doesn’t seem to work very well on my phone and seems you may need a laptop or iPad to complete the work properly. I have noticed several times because the app is on my phone notifications pop up the teachers have said that they will be calling parents whose children aren’t completing the work. Has anyone else had this?

OP posts:
womaninatightspot · 31/03/2020 14:33

I don't think it's compulsory but it's worth trying your best so they don't fall behind. My school was lending out laptops/ pads and creating paper packs for those without internet. Joys of a well funded PPG. Might be worth asking the school what they have available resource wise.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 31/03/2020 14:34

They definitely weren’t lending out iPads or laptops

OP posts:
SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 31/03/2020 14:37

I would imagine that its as close to compulsory as you can get with no way to enforce consequences - theyre unlikely to reteach it all when schools reopen so if he's lazy about it now your DS will end up massively behind. Can you contact the teacher and ask her to email you printable copies of the work, if the app isnt working? That's what teacher DH is doing.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 31/03/2020 14:39

He isn’t lazy, the app doesn’t seem to work on my phone it seems to need a laptop

OP posts:
BighouseLittlemouse · 31/03/2020 14:40

It isn’t compulsory no and good schools should not be pressurising parents. Hopefully the teachers might be calling to see if there are any resources your child is lacking that the school could help with ( for example sourcing free WiFi). And there will have to be a rethink most likely of next year’s curriculum to allow for all children to ‘catch up’. Please don’t add extra stress to yourself at a difficult time worrying about this.

Also we are most likely in this for the long haul and it will take time for both parents and schools to get into a rhythm that works.

Frlrlrubert · 31/03/2020 14:41

If you contact the school to explain they may be able to print some of the work and you could collect it or they could possibly post it.

I know we're doing that for some of our students who don't have good internet access.

bookmum08 · 31/03/2020 14:43

Not everybody has technology at home to do work schools are setting. How old is your son?

Original poster
PumpkinP · 31/03/2020 14:45

He’s 8. Im not in a position to collect it.

OP posts:
user1495884620 · 31/03/2020 14:47

How old is your son? If he's in year 9/10, you probably ought to be trying to work with the school to get work in a form he can access or he risks being behind at GCSEs (although he won't be the only one in the same boat.) If he's in reception, do a bit of reading with him and tell the school to jog on, he has plenty of time to catch up. If he's somewhere in between, tailor your response accordingly.

HoffiCoffi13 · 31/03/2020 14:47

No it’s not compulsory. Our headmistress has sent a letter basically saying not to put any pressure on and to do as much or as little as you can cope with.
Having said that... I think there will be a situation where those who have done the work will be far ahead of those who haven’t, and the time needed to go over things may not be available.

camsie · 31/03/2020 14:48

Your child will be behind when school go back as lots of children are completing school work.

It's definitely worth supporting his learning in whatever way you can.

whatsleep · 31/03/2020 14:51

School may be able to get a pack to you if you ask. We have a few children at our school who can’t access the work via the internet so paper copies have been made for them to collect. I’m pretty sure that if we had a family that couldn’t come and collect it we would do our best to get it to them. Give your school a call I’m sure they will help if they can .

PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock · 31/03/2020 14:51

What App is it?

Is there any other work that he can do? For example different apps, websites or paper work packs? What are his other friends without a laptop doing?

canigooutyet · 31/03/2020 14:52

Honestly we haven’t even looked at it yet. Haven’t received any message, although I’m in phone contact with them. They are aware, and haven’t said anything.

But realistically they will have to redo from closed to reopen anyway especially in secondary school. They know it’s hard to work whilst trying to get your own children to do work, a lot of them are parents.

We are reading, working on artwork, talking more about the world, cooking etc. They are researching pandemics, and of course we are watching end of the world films.

If it drags on they will log in and do what they can.

They will cover the work because they know not everyone will be able to do it at the moment. Their mh has to come first if they are going to recover from this. Many will loose someone close to them.

user1495884620 · 31/03/2020 14:53

Sorry, cross posted. At 8, he's still at the age where he has loads of time to catch up. Keep up his reading, do a bit of everyday maths (eg cooking), watch some educational TV, do a bit of baking or lego or craft and don't stress too much. If you haven't got the technology to access the work, then you haven't got it. Do let the school know that he isn't completing work because he can't access it, though, as they might have an alternative for you.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 31/03/2020 14:58

canigooutyet is your post for real? You haven’t attempted any of the school work and expect the teachers to pick it up whilst you watch films with your kids?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 31/03/2020 14:59

Reach out to your school OP, they may be able to print off packs etc to help

JollyAndBright · 31/03/2020 15:00

Maybe you should ring the school and ask for some help with it since you are having issues.

DS’s schoolwork is compulsory.
His teachers are doing lessons via google meets and he has work set for each lesson that must be completed, if he doesn’t log on to the meet he is marked as absent and the school are calling parents, the teachers are checking and marking the work periodically.

The apps the school uses work on mobile so there really isn’t any excuse for someone to not attend.
and you can go and collect printed out copies of the work from the school if you don’t have a computer.

Our school and the teacher really are going above and beyond to ensure our dcs still get an education the least we can do is make sure the dcs attend the lessons and do the work.

TheHarryFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 31/03/2020 15:01

Our primary have said that it really isn’t in any way compulsory, that it’s just suggestions and that it’s fine todo your own thing.

TheHarryFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 31/03/2020 15:03

It’s also not homeschooling. The school remain responsible for your child’s education. It’s nothing like actual home ed, where you’re not tied to a curriculum.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 31/03/2020 15:06

Im Not going out, my child is in the extremely vulnerable list and needs to stay in for 12 weeks, I am a lone parent so no I won’t be going to collect it.

OP posts:
bookmum08 · 31/03/2020 15:08

If he is 8 then just focus on Maths English really. If the school doesn't/can't send you paper copies of work then maybe try to order some work books from Amazon. At that age most other subjects are taught in 'topic' form and while some subjects are important to know about (ie second world war) some are essentially just interesting trivia (vikings, great fire of London etc) so don't worry to much about them.

SinkGirl · 31/03/2020 15:10

Contact the school and see what they can do to help you - you can’t be the only one in this situation. They should be able to post paper copies to you, post is still up and running.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 31/03/2020 15:10

OP I appreciate you are a vulnerable household and can’t go out, but you should speak to the school they could have suggestions or at least advise on the topics etc

K0612 · 31/03/2020 15:10

I don't think anyone suggested you collect it they are saying reach out to the school and they might be able to help you with the app or they will post it to you. This could go on for months and they will have a duty of care to be calling children who aren't engaging.