Ed Phil

[sunshine241083]

I am currently putting my ed phil together, would anyone be willing to share theirs with me to help me along my way.

Not exactly what you asked for but...

In my experience, people think ed phils have to be much longer and heavier than is actually the case.

I've put some info together here edyourself.org/articles/edphilgeneral.php#intro

Also, local authorities are pretty familiar with phrases which recur from the Ed Phils which have been on the internet for years!

But you don't actually need to send samples or documented proof of learning activities of course.

The law doesn't require you to satisfy the LA unless and until something arises which makes it appear to the LA that there is no education being provided.

At all stages prior to to this, you are simply giving a brief response to a request for information, which is quite different from supplying evidence to prove your case.

I used the outline on Fiona's website as the basis for our Ed Phil. We did: Reasons for HEing - no studies or evidence or anything just why we thought it suited our DD. Provision - we have various books and craft equipment, we go to such and such groups, are members of various organisations, have recently been on these sorts of outings, we have a supportive family, etc. And then a summary where I said we don't follow a timetable or curriculum and DD does not wish to share her work, I may have included a bit about DD's particular interests (cutting + sticking!).

It was about 2 pages long, I gave nothing specific about DD's achievement (other than saying she was pleased with her progress) or our targets and did not provide any work samples. The LA thanked me for my 'superbly detailed' report and offered a home meeting, which I declined.

You only need to give them an idea that you're providing an education rather than sending your kids up chimneys every day, you're not a school and you don't work for the LA, nor do you need their 'approval'. It seems like a really hard thing to write, but once you start, it's not that bad at all

"samples of work should be sent only when requested"

The LAs can request till the cows come home-doesn't mean you should send samples of work.

There is no 'should' about it. You simply do not have to send any. It's the children's intellectual property only to be shared if the children choose to IMO.

I think the point betelguese is that you don't have to show the LA any samples of work, published or otherwise. That decision is down to you/your DS, the LA do not need to see samples of work to satisfy their enquiries as to whether an education is being provided.

My DD chose not to share her work, but then she's only 6, so I'm giving her another year or so before I expect her to have anything published

Yes but your lad liked taking part in the contest and chose to share his work. That's delightful.
Anyone choosing to have their work published is consenting to share it.

but not the same at all, as the LA asking to see samples of work and making parents believe they 'should' send it.

My children didn't want the LA involved in their education any more, so didn't want to share their work. We are not obliged by law to do so, so we listened to the children's choices and didn't.

yes to all of the above Betelguese, but in all of those cases the child has chosen to share the work.

Which is a world away from being told by anyone that they 'should' send examples of work to the LA.

To go back to what Ornellaia said, back in the day (2004?) I sent something pretty similar to my LA. It felt like much less than everyone else told me they were doing, but I too had a reply saying it was very comprehensive and detailed.

I've talked to lots and lots of people working for LAs since then and the overwhelming majority are basically picking up on a vibe about whether the parent is committed and confident and is responding to the child's needs. You don't need to quote Chomsky or prove that your home education is developing a child prodigy.

If you've got an idea that you have to be perfect, or that your child has to be gifted or "ahead", then this could undermine your confidence.

The thing is, their job isn't to judge you. The law only gives LAs a responsibility to sort something if there is no education being provided. But it's not like you need to pass an audition to be allowed to carry on!

If you always do far more than you need, then you never know it's safe to do less. If that makes sense!