Is homeschooling compulsory?

[PumpkinP]

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?

I have 5 kids, and a single parent. I can't keep up with all of them, they've been given so much stuff all of different levels and different deadlines, some ridiculous. If its compulsory i want to know when I'm going to be arrested lol. Because quite simply i can only make them do so much! Crap times for them as it is really, and it's hard shielding them from what's going on in the world what with not seeing their friends and not knowing when things will ever be normal we cannot put too much pressure on children that might also start becoming depressed.

I think it is good to do some if you can, just to keep some sort of routine and feeling he is keeping up. The apps don't always work brilliantly on a phone, depending on the app and depending on your phone. You could try to delete the app and reinstall it first.

Otherwise, call the school and explain. Schools are sending out packs to the few kids that need it, they just couldn't possibly do a blanket print out of all things for all families. Even if they just print out a handful of things, it will make you both feel like you are taking part.

Apart from that, just get him reading, looking at maths games or literacy games on your phone, writing something every day (give him a theme or a question), cooking using maths, watching one of the educational programmes that are now on youtube as well as paid for apps/streaming.

Get him out in the garden if you have one, just to get some sunlight and air on his screen.

Our state primary hasn’t set any work whatsoever; in fact, they have specifically told us not to try to homeschool but just to encourage lots of reading and playing with Lego. They have said they will ensure every child catches up eventually.

I'd be surprised if any of the work being sent out for that age is more than maintaining a bit of the 3 r's.
How far behind can an 8 year old get, really? If you are reading to and with them, conversing with them, maybe practising multiplication tables, and just generally doing a bit of stuff, they'll be fine.

ignatiusjreilly wow I find that shocking

I've got an 8 yr old (in year4).
Today we have had a message saying 15 kids (from a 3 form school, so 90 children) have accessed the maths work last week, and 20 looked at the English from the year group.
If that is replicated across the country, most kids aren't accessing the school provided stuff.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers
If you read Correctly, he is engaging is brain from reading etc.
Nothing wrong with watching films either btw and can create discussion and not only about the plot.

When schools reopen, chances are it will be a staggered return to learning. There will be lots of kids going back with serious mh issues.

At secondary age most of what will be on the system will be what we are doing anyway. I’m not going to be able to teach him to do the next level math stuff, so chances are that’s only revision basically.

My son is in year 3. The teacher said only 5 children have done learning today so he certainly isn’t the only one. Was just surprised the teacher said he was going to call parents, at first I thought it might be just to prompt the children but he has said it 3 times now.

canigooutyet tbh I find your attitude pretty poor, and whilst I completely agree that mh amongst our children is important we have very different outlooks on how to maintain it. I think it’s good to keep up a routine as close to the school day as people reasonably can (I appreciate with multiple kids and parents wfh this differs between households). I don’t think scaremongering films about the end of the world is for their well being. In fact the disdain towards the education system from a lot of people on this thread is very depressing but don’t worry the teachers will pick up the slack huh?!

I’m sure there are many children who won’t have access to a laptop or iPad.

I’m struggling as my DD’s school will be sending work through email after Easter, most needs to be printed and I don’t have a printer, we do have a iPad but dd refuses to do work on it (she has ASD and for some reason she won’t use tech at home).

Also received a email from school yesterday saying not to worry if you can not complete work and that we should use our time to teach life skills such as cooking, housework and handling money.

I don’t find it shocking either that @ignatiusjreilly school has taken a no work stance. There will be homes in similar situations to @Wannabangbang
who simply won’t be able to cope, and why should she try and stress herself more trying to do it?

In secondary there simply isn’t enough curriculum time to go over the work again. It will be years ten and twelve that suffer the most.

The law states that it is the responsibility of the parent to provide and education for their child(ren) be that outsourcing to a school or through Home Education.

As long as you attempt some sort of work with your child you will be ok. There are lots of free resources online, and you can teach life skills too.
Also, don't forget kids only work for a couple of hours at school anyway when you take off breaks, teachers settling the class, handing out work etc.

Routines come in many forms.
Education starts at home. Just because someone isn’t doing proper revision at the moment doesn’t mean they aren’t learning.
Once a week in school he would have a two hour cooking session. In school not really a lot gets done. We made loads in 2 hours, talked about food etc. Oh but it wasn’t on the curriculum and I didn’t wait for a teacher to put it onto the site, so it doesn’t count?

I teach primary school. This is exactly why we decided to go with paper based work. It cannot be assumed that all children have access to technology.
We did work packs on the first week and this week I’ve been putting a maths and literacy challenge on the school website.

I’ve not had a single email from a parent or child.

For primary aged children I would say to go with the flow. Mental health is far more important than anything else. These kids have been taken from their schools and told to stay home, how scary must that be to them? They need attention, some sort of routine, love and a safe place to be. If you are lucky enough to have child that wants to work and you are in a position to help them great! Otherwise, get through this how you see fit! I have one child who will do bits and bobs without throwing a fit, and another with ASD who won't do a thing (he's only just gone back into education after staying home 9 months). They are happy and healthy. I see that as a win!

I’m pretty sure the government actually said it wouldn’t be compulsory to do homeschooling work. Thousands of parents are juggling working at home with having kids at home, thousands of kids don’t have internet access or parents with the skills to support them studying. Good schools have recognised this and given access to home work for those that want it, with no expectations. That’s what my DS’s school have done.

I think you need to know the difference between H.ed and School too.
H.ed is taking on responsibility for your child's learning and nothing to do with any school or LA, you aren't registered.

currently, schools are having to work remotely, virtual classrooms and work. They are still under the responsibility of the school, they just can't attend. Schools should be checking up on children and parents, setting work and continuing their education.
It's better for their mh to keep routine.

PumpkinP contact the teacher via email and explain that the app isn't working on your phone and your child is medically vulnerable so you can't leave the house. Explain that you will read with him every day, do online maths or just wrote sums for him yourself (or buy a workbook on Amazon), cook together, do kids yoga or some other online kids sport, and watch educational videos on whatever topic they're doing together on your phone (or watch one educational TV programme about animals or geography or history or whatever each day).

My 8 year old has sent out a full class email today telling parents to stop complaining about the volume of work and keep going through the Easter holidays if they can't keep up. The same email states no tasks can be missed out and the work should only take 3 hours. I'm sitting with dc3 the whole time and keeping him on task and explaining and most days it's taking 5 hours (9 "lessons", 5-10 minutes break between tasks dependent on how long the task took. Not including a longer break for lunch and a walk. So 4 hours of actually solidly pen in hand working plus breaks). We're abroad though.

My 8 year old's teacher has sent out the whole class email, not my 8 year old!😂

I would explain to the school.
If he's going to year 4 in September, they will go over some things but equally, it'll be a jump.
I currently teach year 3 and my dd is in year 2. I don't have a strict timetable but don't want her to be behind either.
If you can't access the app, could you try and order some maths and English work books online? Just so that he doesn't fall behind.

No it isn't.

I've seen a govt webpage explaining this in a teaching forum. After a teacher issued a detention to a child of an slt teacher for non completion of tasks

@canigooutyet sadly we won't be starting where we left off.
Unless the school day increases to 8 hours and we open weekends.

My two kids are Y10 and Y8.
The Y10 kids school have not provided any physical workpacks.
He doesnt have a laptop, our internet speed has reduced and the links they've sent home largely dont work. there is no facility for 'handing work in'. Y8 again school wouldnt provide any workpacks. Lots of emails home urging kids to work (4 per day) but no support available.
Both my kids have ASD and SEN. We are trying, but its really hard.

I'm now working full time from home (accountant) with a 12 year old and an 18 year old on a BTech course with no 'predicted grade' fall back, so she has to complete it with the grades needed to start uni in September. My 12 year old now has a timetable that I made, and my 18 year old is having video conferences for lessons! Its working ok for now but for how long I don't know once the novelty wears off! Whilst it's not compulsory, it is revision, and I believe the routine keeps them (& me) sane! Op i would certainly contact the school and ask them to send out the information for you