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Original poster

why doesn't the gov pay the parents to home educate if they want to?

398 replies

tinselwreath · 26/12/2020 23:01

I just have a question as I'm curious what people think here since there is the obstacle of closing primary schools to keep virus numbers down.

Why doesn't the government offer the pupil funding to the parent instead? This could be completely voluntary but considering there is about £3750 attached to each primary school pupil, they could give this directly to parents at around £300+ per month for each child and not include this in universal credit calculation to make it more lucrative. Plenty of parents would probably choose not to send their children in and it would leave more space for rotas/social distancing for the parents who cannot take the pupil funding option instead. This shouldn't cost anymore money because it is simply taking the money that the school would receive and giving it to the parent.

OP posts:
BrummyMum1 · 27/12/2020 00:19

compensating the parent who chooses to make the sacrifice and home educate.

With so many working parents fighting to keep hold of their jobs, you’re asking for one hell of a sacrifice.

Kaliorphic · 27/12/2020 00:19

I don't agree with that either gin. I definitely don't think kids should be off rolled and the parents given the money for it.

GinAndTonicOnIt · 27/12/2020 00:20

What you guys are forgetting is this isn't a choice for many already. Home education will be compulsory when schools shut due to covid. Why shouldn't parents be compensated for taking on the work? It is their tax money at the end of the day anyways, and they are paying for an unusable service.

What you are forgetting is to answer my questions.

What happens when it's deemed safe enough to go back to school and there are no teachers there?

Also what about parents who have been furloughed. So they are receiving 80% of their salary and legally can't work. That time can be used to help with online learning. You want the to have more money on top?

You've also ignore my comment about mortality rates now compared to our ancestors.

Original poster
tinselwreath · 27/12/2020 00:22

Get this.

Those parents will increasingly not have a job anyway. The economy is FUBAR with only more on the way for 2021. Yet you guys want the parents to do the job when schools close, yet do not want them to receive income for it. Immoral.

OP posts:
movingonup20 · 27/12/2020 00:23

Because a certain percentage of people may take the money and not bother educating their child. It's hard enough to get some parents to bring their kids to school to be honest. Unless very closely monitored (something many home educators would object to) having a financial incentive leaves it ripe for abuse

GinAndTonicOnIt · 27/12/2020 00:23

Oh and another thing

Home education will be compulsory when schools shut due to covid. Why shouldn't parents be compensated for taking on the work?

Actually it's often not compulsory. Many schools have made it incredibly clear. You don't have to homeschool your child. It is the job of the teaching staff to catch your child up when they return. The tasks given are simply suggestions to use if they'd be welcome and helpful for your child during these times. As a parent it's your job to keep your child as safe and well as you can during these difficult times.

LoudBatPerson · 27/12/2020 00:24

@tinselwreath

What you guys are forgetting is this isn't a choice for many already. Home education will be compulsory when schools shut due to covid. Why shouldn't parents be compensated for taking on the work? It is their tax money at the end of the day anyways, and they are paying for an unusable service.
The school staff were still working though. The schools had the same costs as before plus additional costs due to pupils needing to access work. The teachers were still providing work and marking it etc.

That's before you move onto what happens after the pandemic passes.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 27/12/2020 00:24

@tinselwreath

What you guys are forgetting is this isn't a choice for many already. Home education will be compulsory when schools shut due to covid. Why shouldn't parents be compensated for taking on the work? It is their tax money at the end of the day anyways, and they are paying for an unusable service.
Honestly OP... You really haven't a clue.

What Adrastia said

LoudBatPerson · 27/12/2020 00:27

@tinselwreath

Get this.

Those parents will increasingly not have a job anyway. The economy is FUBAR with only more on the way for 2021. Yet you guys want the parents to do the job when schools close, yet do not want them to receive income for it. Immoral.

Parents teach their children things all of the time. Parents care for their children. The schools still provide work and support even when shut, they are not just washing their hands of the children's education.

We are lucky enough to have a safety net for people who have lost their jobs (not enough of one but at least there is one). People who have lost their jobs have the time to use the school provided resources to help their children progress. It's just a part of parenting. No one gets paid for being a parent and parenting.

Kaliorphic · 27/12/2020 00:28

Why shouldn't parents be compensated for taking on the work? It is their tax money at the end of the day anyways

Well we don't get to pick and choose what our tax money is spent on. If we did, all public services would collapse. If you think that your child is struggling in school then do your best to help them out of school. Or work out how best you can make it work if you want to take your child out.

Anothertiredmother · 27/12/2020 00:29

How would that be fair on the parents who do not have the time or resources to home educate? I work full time and so does my DH. If the schools close my son won’t get a home taught education - he’s too young to be expected to study unsupervised. The schools need the pupil premium funding and from what I hear it already isn’t nearly enough anyway...

AldiAisleofCrap · 27/12/2020 00:30

@FamilyOfAliens Do you understand anything about safeguarding? do you? I home educate my children , I don’t offer them up for viewing on zoom or otherwise. They, in non COVID times attend doctors , dentist, clubs and activities.
I would not want to be paid though.

TragedyHands · 27/12/2020 00:31

OP you seem to be confusing home school with home education.
Do you really think Home educators are going to welcome safeguarding checks? and on what grounds? Surely, only a complaint to SS could warrant such a check.
Do you propose safeguarding checks for parents of school educated children, during the holidays?

AIMD · 27/12/2020 00:31

I think a payment for parents who had to take unpaid leave due to children being off school for long periods might have been helpful.... sorry of like parenting furlough.

I don’t think people should be funded to do education at home during school closures due to covid. Though if there were to be another long closure like during the first lockdown I think some funding resources for disadvantage families would be helpful.

Aside from covid I do think parents who choose to home educate souls have access to some funding if their child isn’t in school. But not just if their child is learning at home short term because of covid.

SkiingIsHeaven · 27/12/2020 00:32

In your world can parents claim the £300 back if they send their kids to private school? Those parents are making sacrifices and not using the local authority run schools.

moresoap · 27/12/2020 00:36

setting the kids up for a lifetime of poverty for a start, even the well meaning parents will struggle to educate their kids to an acceptable standard.

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 27/12/2020 00:38

Before you know it tinsel will be picketing the £300 and shoving her kids up a chimney

AldiAisleofCrap · 27/12/2020 00:41

@moresoap I really don’t struggle at all. Teaching a class of children a prescribed curriculum is very different to teaching your own dc.
My five year old for example, is currently at year 3 level in maths. He is clever but not exceptionally so. He just has the advantage of learning in a “class” of five at his own pace.

BluebellsGreenbells · 27/12/2020 00:41

Some parents can’t teach their kids to hold a knife and fork, some think schools should teach manners and behavior

God help us

TragedyHands · 27/12/2020 00:42

compensating the parent who chooses to make the sacrifice and home educate.

Wow, Home educators who have sah will be pleased. they'll be owed a fortune.
I wonder if there will be extra for providing our own resources as opposed to home school where the school provide the work, plan and mark.

GinAndTonicOnIt · 27/12/2020 00:43

@tinselwreath this is a great idea 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻 💡

Said absolutely no one

Countdowntonothing · 27/12/2020 00:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SionnachRua · 27/12/2020 00:46

It is their tax money at the end of the day anyways, and they are paying for an unusable service.

Oh so that's how it works? Great. I want my tax money back for the prisons, I don't use those. Mental health and cancer units, don't use 'em either, give me that back...and what about the pension schemes? I get nothing out of it, give me that back too!!

🙄

friendlycat · 27/12/2020 00:47

I love the tax analogy together with paying for a service that isn’t being potentially met.

By this wonderful argument I don’t have children so should I get a tax rebate? Of course not.

I think you really have to accept that your plan is bonkers.

Happygogoat · 27/12/2020 00:47

Because they'd be paying [some] parents to whack their kids in front of the telly for 6 hours a day