LEA - what should I expect?

[nipplesofthenorth]

Hi

Having deregistered Ds3 and ds4 I am now expecting the local LEA (Northamptonshire) to get in touch. Is it worth me contacting them? Also, what are they going to be looking for from me - paperwork, planning etc?

Thanks!

X

No need for you to get in touch with them. That's not your job!

When they do get in touch, they may be perfectly reasonable, or they may (well) ask for the moon on a stick. Decide what you feel comfortable sharing with them, and don't let them bully you into anything you don't want. e.g. you do not have to meet, give plans, follow a curriculum (although you can if you want). THe minimum is a statement of your educational philosophy.

Look at the guidelines wot they are supposed to follow. If they ask for things the guidelines say you don't have to provide, and which you don't want to provide, write to them to ask for clarification.

hth

Well....
What they will probably ask for and what you can choose to give them are probably two very different things!

They will probably ask to meet with you very soon, with your child present, to fill in the necessary forms to enable you to home educate. Or some such other tosh.

When you deregister a child, you inform the school, it's the school's duty to inform the LA.
The LA can make informal enquiries about the education you are providing, you the parent can choose how to give that information.

you are entitled to a period of settling or Deschooling:

However the courts have accepted that there is the allowance of a period of peroration is
necessary when they quite sensibly took this into account in the Perry Case in which
Lord Slade said:
"Prima facie this opportunity will appropriately be given (as was done in the present
case) if the Authority, having first allowed the parents a sufficient time to set in motion
their arrangements for home education,"

so when the LA gets in touch you can say, No thanks to a home visit and tell them you will get back to them about how you will be giving them the information, when you have had your settling in period, and give them a date by which time you will do so.Deregistered now, you could say you would contact them after Easter, and by then you'll have a better idea of how home education is going to work for you. Whether you will be autonomous educators or more formal .... or somewhere inbetween.

If they send an EWO around to your house, explain the Law says the responsibility for your child's education lies entirely with you and ask that they keep all contact in writing.

If you look at the Elective Home Education :Guidelines for LAs published by the Dept of Education, you'll see:

Home educating parents are not required to:

• teach the National Curriculum
• provide a broad and balanced education
• have a timetable
• have premises equipped to any particular standard
• set hours during which education will take place
• have any specific qualifications
• make detailed plans in advance
• observe school hours, days or terms
• give formal lessons
• mark work done by their child
• formally assess progress or set development objectives
• reproduce school type peer group socialisation
• match school-based, age-specific standards.

As ommmward and julie suggest, some LAs overstep the mark when it comes to their interest in home educated children. It's useful to be aware of the law.

Just for getting started, I think the main things to know are that

You need not agree to anything if you are put on the spot. If anyone rings you (or worse yet, has the audacity to turn up on your doorstep unannounced) you can tell them to contact you in writing instead.

When you do receive a communication from the LA, it may be convenient for you to consult other HE parents who know the law inside and out. You could do this here or on some other home ed forum. If you post to say what the LA is asking you to do and what you actually prefer to do, people will be able to help you understand what your legal obligations are. You may need to write back to the LA quoting the law. This is an advantage to communicating with the LA in writing: you have time to get advice on what's required.

The only thing they can reasonably ask from you is some sort of evidence that would convince a reasonable person that on the balance of probability you are providing a suitable education. This evidence can be in whatever form you prefer.

Enjoy your time with your sons, and do whatever feels right with them.

Ok. I've recieved a letter from the LEA asking me to fill in a programme detailing our plans - subjects, areas covered, resources used ( books, audio visual etc, skills student expected to acquire this academic year, hours per week, extra curricular and shared learning/curricular activities. They say they will then write back to me with feedback. This all feels like a bit too much to me.

I am happy to provide my educational philosophy (semi-structured, broadly curriculum based) but don't see that they need all that and the kitchen sink!

Advice please!

Write to them. Say that you are surprised by their request, since it does not seem to be in line with the 2007 EHE guidelines. Ask them to clarify what information is required from you by law, and then you will be delighted to provide it.