LAVisit next week, help?

[akaemmafrost]

What is she going to say, do, want to see, hear please?

Also I have started writing our Education Philosophy and so far it is 7 pages long ie me just droning on and on and trying to convince them how capable I am of doing this. What do I need to put in it? Do I need to give examples of things we will be doing?

I am planning to loosely follow the NC but in a semi structured way and mainly for maths, literacy and science, the rest will be pretty much whatever ds fancies doing from week to week.

Anyway any ideas on what to expect and how not to appear like a complete dullard would be gratefully received. Thanks.

Are you in England? Do you know you don't have to have a visit? 7 pages sounds far too long already. Also you don't have to convince anyone. All you need (maximum!) is a paragraph about what underpins your approach and a few sentences about resources and examples of how this is working/might work in practice (subject to change as you go along of course)

However, if you DO decide to go ahead with a visit and you send a written thing in ahead of time, be aware that the person might not have read it (especially if if just grows and grows from your mammoth 7 pages already) so you might have to say something like "I'll just leave you with a copy of this to flick through while I go and put the kettle on"

More info on my website here

edyourself.org/articles/guidelines.php (England Home Education Guidelines)

edyourself.org/articles/helaw.php#afterchildoutschool what happens when a child is taken out of school

edyourself.org/articles/edphilgeneral.php Educational Philosophies

Yes I am in England. My ds has a full statement of SEN so I think I will have to see them won't I? Oh and it's 9 pages long now . This apparently is a pre visit before the actual visit in order to explain procedures to me and prepare a social report to help assess the education given. Is this not usual then? Thanks will look at your website.

No, you do not have to see them, even if your child has a statement. When the statement review comes up, you do not even have to participate in that (although it may be in your interest to do so, if you get help or you want your DS to return to school, for example).

My documentation to the LA was one page of A4. If you PM me, I can send you a template. As Fiona says, you need to give:

• your philosophy (why you do what you do in EHE)

e.g. DS learns best through active involvement ...
DS has strong enthusiasms that we use as a springboard ...
My goal for EHE is for DS to become an independent adult who is
able to lead a fulfilling life in the community.

• a statement of provision (what you do)

e.g. Subject to fitting around special opportunities and outings, we do some maths, reading and science most days. We then do the things that particularly interest DS. At the moment that is X but we have done Y and Z in the recent past. DS particularly enjoyed a trip to A or making B with his grandfather... He regularly helps with cooking and other household activities.

• a list of resources (what you use to do it).

DS uses books, a computer, paper and pens, and LEGO at home. He also attends Cubs and plays in a football team.

Where in England are you? How long have you been EHEing and how old is DS?

You do not have to have any visit - and certainly not two. They are not charged with "assessing the education" - they are only charged with getting involved if they believe you are not educating DS. Their procedures are not your concern.

If you decide to meet, it does not need to be in your home and they do not need to meet DS. If you have someone who can look after him, you might want to meet in the library or their office - y'know, like adults do. In your home, you may feel more vulnerable - as if they are judging you. In their office, you will not be afraid of a child making a mess or behaving badly in front of them - and you will not be distracted from the purpose of the meeting.

However, it is perfectly reasonable to point out (in writing) that you are just starting in EHE and are trying out various things. And that, as you are aware from other EHEers that they can offer no practical assistance, a meeting at this point would be a distraction, so you are happier to keep all correspondence in writing.

BTW, I tend to finish my letter with the following paragraph:

I hope that this has given you a sufficiently clear picture of the way in which I am fulfilling my responsibility, under section 7 of the Education Act 1996, to provide DS with an efficient, full-time education appropriate to his age and abilities. If you have any reason to suspect that I may not be fulfilling my duty, I would appreciate it if you would notify me of those reasons in order that I might alleviate your concerns.

That throws the ball into their court and they have to give a reason for harrassing you - they cannot simply say "You've not given us enough.", which they may otherwise try to do.

Hang on, who is actually hoping to visit you? Can you clarify with the LA who this person is and what is the purpose of the proposed visit? Has the statement already been modified to say that parent has made own arrangements? Has he been taken off the school roll?

There is case law which has established that the parent doesn't have to make the provisions specified in the statement or accept at home the learning targets devised for institutional setting. (Basically there was a case where Essex Council put in the statement that the parent had to carry out elements of autism programme at home and the parents refused because they preferred alternative approach. Judge backed parents. See links here edyourself.org/articles/helaw.php#specialneeds

And stop writing that ed phil already!