LA requesting assessments to help them evaluate DS's learning.

[ReformedCharacter]

I submit information to our LA every year as evidence that DS is receiving an appropriate education.

Last September the LA sent us a 'satisfactory' report but there was a sort of advisory note attached:

"However, as (DS) gets older some primary evidence of progress over time and assessments which inform learning would be helpful in evaluating (DS's) learning".

The LA have recently wrote to me reminding me to submit evidence and drawing my attention to the comment about progress/assessments.

I usually just send an updated Ed Phil, list of resources, report on what DS has learnt/activities he's been involved with and a few samples of written/art work. I believe this to be adequate according to the law.

I'm particularly uncomfortable with the LA sitting in judgment about DS's progress and "evaluating [his] learning".

Would it be unreasonable for me to refuse and to just submit evidence as I usually do?

I'd really appreciate other HE parents thoughts on this.

There is no part of the law that says you have to even do what you've been doing up until now, let alone submit assessments!

I'm really shocked that you've been coerced into this.

I suggest you read up on the law, and the guidance that was written last year, and pass it on to your LA, with a letter explaining why you will no longer be submitting anything other than an ed phil.

It's worse than that. They've assessed your education as suitable. that should be the end of it. They have no business asking you for anything at all on an ongoing basis!!!!

I would write to them (copied to your MP, to the department for education, to the head of education at the LA etc) saying something like:

"Dear Mrs LA Numpty,

Thank you for your letter of DATE confirming the suitability of the education we are providing. I was surprised to receive your recent letter of DATE.

In the 2007 elective Home Education Guidelines for LAs, available here: ahed.pbworks.com/f/7373-dcsf-elective-home-education.pdf it states (paragraph 2.7) that "Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis." Has this been superseded? If not, please would you explain why you have made a request for further information about our educational provision, when it has already been assessed as suitable?

Thank you for your help,

Mrs ReformedCharacter

Ha Ha! 'Dear Mrs. LA Numpty':)

Thanks for your posts. I've been re-reading the guidelines for LAs this evening and feel better equipped for dealing with this now.

I'm not going to give them what they are asking for as I can see it just leading to further demands to comply with them. It seems to me that they aren't happy unless they've got me jumping through hoops.

Makes me so cross that nobody gave a shit when DS was doing so badly at school.