Can someone talk to me about flexi schooling please????

[becaroo]

....I think my son would really benefit from it. Best of both worlds, you know?

Anyway, just wondered if different LAs have different policies or if its up to the individual headteachers?

He cannot go back into school full time - it would be far too much for him but the past few months at home have really helped him and I think he would benefit from a school environment too.

I am planning to ring the LA tomorrow and ask, but though some of you may have had FS experience?

It is up to the HT.

IMO, it is the worst of both worlds (but YMMV) - you have to fulfill the NC and the school is still in charge of the education. It is probably easier in secondary, where the timetables are rigid and the children do not stay in a single group - an otherwise EHE child could go in for only science and French, for example.

In primary, the teacher can move "lessons" around to fit the class, so you run the risk of your DS missing something that he would normally have got in school.

SD what does YMMV mean?????

Your Mileage May Vary

Google it, like what I did.

What about the funding from the LEA for a flexi schooled pupil?

Exactly the same as for a full time one.

Googled it.

No further on tbh....still not sure what it means!!! what have hookers got to do with it????

That is the trouble with Acronyms. It is too easy to misunderstand them.

Lucinda was right (and I can't see where the hookers come in...) - YMMV means that you may have a different point of view. Sorry, I was in a hurry.

ahhh.....thanks SD

I haven't tried it, so this is only a secondhand opinion. A young woman I know said that in her experience it was the worst of both worlds, because in each setting she was the odd one out.

Her home ed friends would be planning to swim on Tuesday or go to a museum on Wednesday, and she couldn't go with them because those were her school days. They always seemed to be having fun without her.

Meanwhile the schoolchildren would be gossiping about how much trouble so-and-so got into yesterday, or how the French teacher said a rude word, and she didn't know what they were talking about because she was only there half the time.

I think she was nine or ten when she decided to leave school, having been flexischooled up to then.

Like others, I suspect you get both downsides with flexi-schooling at this age, rather than both upsides, though DS did it last year in Secondary - but that was just a matter of him having one "column" of his timetable as Home Ed, which didn't cause any social disruption.

Maybe if you think through just what aspects of the school environment you think he'd benefit from, it might be possible to find non-school ways to provide those things? eg if its the social side, having to deal with a gruop of children, then something like cubs/scouts might be useful, if its team sports then you may find a Saturday or "after-school" club/team, etc.

He already attends karate lessons, swimming lessons and Beavers so he gets lots of socialisaton, although I know its an aspect of school he misses.

Am quite shocked at how excited he is about going back to school - which sort of makes me think I am doing the right thing?

Also, the school I have been to see (going to another on friday) was really positive about doing a "phased return" for him rather than FT flexi schooling which surprised me as its something I thought I would have to fight for.

We are very lucky in that we have met some lovely people in the HE commnuity but the fact is that most of them live a long distance away - some 1.5 hours - and the vast majority (I would say 80%) of the kids ds1 has met through groups, meet ups etc have ADHD/Autism/Aspergers etc which is, obviously, the reason they are being HE and whilst this is not an issue for me (my dn has aspergers and ds1 will encounter children with these SN in mainstream school too) ds1 is starting to get a bit fed up. He doesnt understand their behaviour (he is only just 7) and I cannot force him to keep going to activities/meet ups where he feels anxious/upset.

(I am sorry if that upsets those of you with dc with SN but thats been my experience and thats how ds1 feels.)

I have loved HE him BUT to continue would be because I want to and not because its whats best for him IYSWIM????

I have no regrets about taking him out of school and, frankly, would do so again if there were problems.

Thanks for your POV x

So, ideally, you like the idea of a phased return to fulltime school? I think if you and he and the school would all be happy with that as an aim, and they're willing to be flexible about how the phased return works then it could well be the answer.

My reservations about flexischool are more that I don't think its that good as a permanent plan, as it doesn't help the child to feel really part of the school. But as a gradual process of getting him back into it I think that could work well.

I totally get your point about the SN - its important for DC to get experience of dealing with a range of other children, including those with SN, but when the "range" is 80% SN then its not giving him much of a a range of experience at all.

AMIS Thank you for your post. I really hope I havent offended anyone - you put my feelings so much better than I did

Initially I wanted to try Flexi schooling and was (to my surprise) encouraged by my LA but since meeting the HT yesterday and her being so great I have sort of come round to the idea of a "phased return" to FT schooling.

DS1 also seems happy to go morning at first. The HT even said I can stay for the 1st morning!!!! I think she is more worried about me than ds1!!!

I think its great that you son is excited about returning to school, home ed works for some and not others, I have 2 in school and 2 out and i know they are all happy! if that ever changed I would support them in which ever way they decided to go.

If he is up for trying school then take his lead, if things dont work out then you can always opt out the system again at a later date!

Its lovely to hear a school that is supportive!

Good Luck

Thank you MO4D

If he had problems again I would defintely HE again. I personally have had good support from the LA and from the HE community and the fab HE board on MN of course!!!