Who do I contact regard Home Educated child to raise concerns?

[Bemumsed]

Hi,

Have umm and aaah over this for ages, but am really concerned about some children known to us who are being home educated.

They are simular ages to our children, yet do not appear to be making any progress educationally. I know one of the children who is similar age to my eldest child cannot read. Parents say it is because she is dyslexic, but I find that hard to believe as have people in my family/friends who are extremely dyslexic but they were able to read at this age, even if it was with some difficulties. Parent have done nothing to tackle the problem, citing lack of money to get child properly assessed.

Also parents don't appear to spend much time if any working with their children on their education.

Parents won't talk about it. I'm just very concerned for children in the family that their educational and social needs are not being met.

I know that legally parents are entitled to home educate, but is there any way that the education of these children can be looked into? I can't find any info on local council website that explain who I can contact even if they turn round and say there is nothing they can do about it. Would like to know that at least I've tried.

It amuses me that numerous posts by those who don't approve of or want to regulate home education are accepted whilst the posts from home educators who actually have knowledge of the subject are criticised. Welcome to our world!

For the record as the old 'abused children' adage has been quoted, children who attend school are 6.5 times more likely to be abused by a teacher (using the statistics only for proven cases and as a percentage of all school children for fair comparison) than home educated children are to be subject to reports of abuse (again using percentage of all HE children but this time using all reported cases including nuisance mongering ones, thus greatly exaggerating abuse in HE situations.)

Perhaps all HE families should report parents of school attending children to have their school holiday provision monitored regularly and to have reports from the SS to check that they don't abuse their children in that long 6 weeks of summer.

couldn't agree more @Jodysmum

A parent who HE's knows if her child is struggling or even if gifted

Not if the parent is shite. There's nothing about choice to HE that makes a superior parent. Or that prevents a parent from being blinkered, ignorant or in denial.

I really wouldn't know what to do if I were OP, but agree with those who say that OP is better placed than any of us to judge.

"Not if the parent is shite. There's nothing about choice to HE that makes a superior parent. Or that prevents a parent from being blinkered, ignorant or in denial."

No one is saying that the choice to HE your child somehow makes you "superior", but it does imply that a particular closeness is developed as a result of the continuous support provided by the parent in an educational respect. Yes, there are crap HE'rs, but they're not HE'rs, are they? They're not representative of all parents who choose to HE, either.

"I really wouldn't know what to do if I were OP, but agree with those who say that OP is better placed than any of us to judge."

I don't think anyone has the right to judge, it's no one's business to judge whether a not a child's progression meets arbitrary targets that are used in schools. Because that's the clincher, isn't it? These children are compared to progression that takes place in a conventional school setting, when the delivered education is completely different.

It's like comparing mass-produced microwave meals with home-cooking!

Arliasnext - I love your comparison of microwave meals!

In all honesty it sounds like she is an autonomous educator/ radical unschooler both of which are perfectly valid approaches.

By all means, make a referral but be absolutely 100000000000000% sure that absolutely no education is taking place before you do. For all you know they may have an extremely good reason for not having visits, as is their legal right to do so.

Just because it's not your approach doesn't make it wrong.

I've heard fo a family who does structured for one child and completely autonomous for another, because that is what is right for their children the beauty of home education is that it is tailored to each child's needs.

Yes, there are crap HE'rs, but they're not HE'rs, are they?

Eh?

Just because it's not your approach doesn't make it wrong. Nobody said HE was wrong.

Another ridiculously cover-all, wishy washy statement.

You HEdders are always so RIGHT. God help the child that is taught by people who have no concept of self-doubt. You do your 'profession' a disservice with your defensive attitude.

Or maybe we HAVE to be defensive as I've never heard a good word said about HEing. Telling people you do it tends to make you a bit of a pariah and I personally have never had a positive response when I've told anyone, quite the reverse actually.

"Eh?"

Well, given the title of the activity, is it not prudent to assume that, as a home-educator, one is, indeed, educating one's child/ren? Therefore, if no education is taking place, it is safe to assume that they aren't in fact, home-educators. Yes?

"!Another ridiculously cover-all, wishy washy statement.
You HEdders are always so RIGHT. God help the child that is taught by people who have no concept of self-doubt. You do your 'profession' a disservice with your defensive attitude."

You are aware that children teach themselves to read and write, yes?
Just curious.

The reason we can be so defensive is because we are always having to defend our right to home educate to people. (Not only that but the same questions on loop can be really irritating and I know I certainly get fed up of answering them)

The defensiveness here is frankly worrying.

There is nthing at all wrong, in fact everyhting right, with passing on a genuine concern to the relevant body.

The OP is not proposing to make a citizen's arrest, simply raising her concern with the LEA.

Being a tight knit community is one thing, but closing ranks out of defensiveness is very much the down side of that.

Like it or not, there are some families who don't make a good fist of HE.

WACKY you really don't. The law is entirely on the side of HE. The case law is clear.
I have won case after case on this.

Yes, the last giovernment flirted with trying to introduce more regulation. Ed Balls was and still is a twat. But he got no where. And this government, both tory and lib dem are wholly committed to HE remaining legal.

wordfactory

I'm not suggesting for one moment that there aren't sour examples of what is falsely alleged to be "education", however, this particular poster's concerns simply aren't viable and certainly don't warrant unnecessary meddling.

Surely you are level-headed enough to recognise that not all children progress at the same pace, and therefore it's not proper to make the assumption that because other Dyslexic children she knows can read, it automatically dictates that these particular children are not receiving an education?

I would suggest speaking with the family if the OP is genuinely concerned. However, the fact remains that what may seem like nothing at all can often be an enriching education for the child. Only the parent knows what is in the best interest of their child's educational needs. There is no concern over welfare, and I see no justifiable cause for interference.

Of course DC learn at different rates.

To be honest, it strikes me as what might be worrying about this, and is certainly worrying the op, is that the parents seem to be doing their own thing. She says, the DC are not being taken out into the community. And that's worrying her.
I've known DC like that, who for a number of reasons barely get out. It's not good.

I just can't see where the harm is in asking the LEA to have a word.

wordfactory - The Badman report certainly hasn't helped matters. The law is very clear, the problem comes when people don't seem to understand it (I'm under a bad LA so my view may be tainted).

If there is nothing at all wrong with reporting a 'genine concern' let's just look at it another way shall we?

Have umm and aaah over this for ages, but am really concerned about some children known to us who are being school educated. (I can cite examples)

They are simular ages to our children, yet do not appear to be making any progress educationally. I know one of the children who is similar age to my eldest child cannot read. (as can't 10% of school leavers) The school says it is because she is dyslexic, but I find that hard to believe as have people in my family/friends who are extremely dyslexic but they were able to read at this age, even if it was with some difficulties. Of course all children should develop at the same rate despite dyslexia. The school has done nothing to tackle the problem, citing lack of money to get child properly assessed. (my own GRandson's mother was told that by a school).

Also the school doesn't appear to spend much time if any working with the individual children on their wider education, they concentrate on a much too narrow curriculum. My home educated child studies geology, astrophysics, Quanyum physics, biochemistry, ethics, flying lessons, History outside the set period in the National curriculum, metalwork, mechanics, Animal husbandry, advanced maths and much more. I think these school children are being poorly educated.

The school and the children's parents won't talk about it. I'm just very concerned for children in the family that their educational and social needs are not being met.

I know that legally parents are entitled to send their children to school, but is there any way that the education of these children can be looked into? I can't find any info on local council website that explain who I can contact even if they turn round and say there is nothing they can do about it. Would like to know that at least I've tried.

So, should I report these parents to social services or to the Education deparment. I'm not sure which is best.

wordfactory

I really can see your point, and I understand why it may be alarming to people such as the OP, who don't HE. That being said, unless she is observing their every move (which, quite frankly, would be disturbing) then she has absolutely no way of knowing how often the children are going out and socialising or involving themselves in their local community.

Raising the red flag to the authorities on a whim because she doesn't have the entire picture to draw reassurance from is a fairly lethal reaction to take. She could single-handedly put a target on their heads as far as the LA is concerned, and that family will probably be fighting them off until the end of time.

The simple fact is, there is little the LA can do beyond harassing the family (which does happen, before anyone shoots me down) and that's not exactly what the OP wants either, I don't think.

OP- what you have to do is take away your feelings on the matter and ask yourself whether you'd be happy with the consequences of making a report. You could force them into a position where they see no way out than to move out of the borough and go into hiding. Would you be happy with being responsible for that? Are you willing to accept that you might not have as clear a picture as you think you do?

Have you spoken to the children about their HE journey? Are they happy? The only think that would ever convince me to involve myself in their personal affairs would be if the children had been unhappy for some time, and their feelings were not being properly addressed.

For what it's worth, my nine-year-old cannot read or write very well, and I'm not concerned in the slightest.

Jodysmum

You are absolutely spot on with that, and I have to admit that it did make me chuckle.

I can't believe that some people have said the op should mind her own! Imagine if we all just minded our own whenever there was a concern about a child!

I truly havent got time to read the whole thread right now but...........

While you are reporting Bemused, perhaps you would like to report my family too?
Dd is 8 and cannot read

Do pm me and Ill give you my contact details

I do accept that some people have genuine concerns about some HE children (I know some in fact and my concerns are far more worthy than the op's) but a childs inability to read at age 8 is NOT in itself a reason for concern.

Im fed up of the HE bashing on MN. :(

arlia it's clearly not a whim.
The op has clearly been thinking about it and is anxious.

And of course she doesn't have the full picture. It's rare that any of us ever do. But you don't just walk away from concerns becasue you don't have it. You pass on your concerns to the relevant authority.
If you wait and wait and wait...what are you gaining.

But I can see we are not ever going to agree on this. And the OP will and must do what she thinks is right. As must we all.

As I say I am huge supporter of HE, but I am ultimately a greater supporter of children. Where their welfare is concerned I would rather stand on the side of caution. If that makes some people grumpy then so be it.

thread what have you done about those home educated DC for whom you have concerns?

My concerns are (I think) greater than the op's but not sufficiently great for me to report. If they were I would.

An inability to read at 8 is not a reason for concern. :)
The other things the op may be (but I doubt it tbh)

There are some shit parents out there (fact) who send their children to school. How is it wrong to worry that there might also be some shit parents who HE? The OP sounds genuinely concerned and very sensible. How can you call it education if the parents are off doing their own thin?

Also, are all those who HE wealthy enough to live on one job? We couldn't afford to do it, even if we wanted to.

Thread. What are they out of interest?

Also, are all those who HE wealthy enough to live on one job? We couldn't afford to do it, even if we wanted to.

Please, don't. Just... just don't.
That question is completely irrelevant.