just looking

[morethanpotatoprints]

Hi we are just looking into pros and cons of HE for dd 8.
I have found our local authority contact but don't want to make contact as we are unsure at present and also don't know what questions we will need to ask, so wanted to wait awhile.
Does anybody know if there are any groups of heders in Wigan. I would like dd to have contact with children and this would be one of the deciding factors. Also what iyo should we be considering. No loss of income, other children of school age to consider.
Many thanks for any responses.

Don't worry about contacting the LA. IMO there is nothing in it for you to do so. Anything they might possibly offer in terms of support, will be very limited and nothing compared from what you can get from the HE community nationally and locally.
You have no obligation to contact them at all. Your only obligation would be to send in a deregistration letter for your dd.
If/when you do that, the LA will get in touch and ask for (and probably will infer you are obliged to have) a home visit.
You don't have to have a home visit, you don't have to meet with them at all. Your children don't have to meet the LA, if you don't want to and you don't have to send in work samples either.
Instead many home educators prefer to send in a written report.
Have a look at the Elective Home Education: Guidelines for LAs espcially sections 3.13 and 3.6 which state what we are NOT obliged to do, and explain about parents choices with regard to providing information about the education you are providing.

You can find Wigan home Educators here-social events, like minded people, and advice about handling the LA all to be found there!

Thank you so much, for your reply. It is a difficult decision and not one to rush into as I'm sure you know already. There are so many nice people on this thread and you seem as though you do heders a good service here. So many people judge, but like others I really don't care what people think.
My biggest concern atm is dd loves school, is confident and has good friends. The school itself is everything we wanted and more. The children there are so supportive of each other and incidents of bullying are rare. This is why the decision is so hard. It is the system I object to and the many useless activities they do that take time away from imo vital reading, writing and spelling. Also more time for music practice is essential as dd would like to try for a specialist music school at 11.
Dh is happy to look at the possibility but like another poster said I don't want to steam roller him into agreeing with me, but rather it be a joint decision. I am meeting with resistance from dds older brothers both having left compulsory education, both think we are wrong to consider it.

I'm new to HE-ing having pulled my DD1 (aged 13) out of school only a week ago. I pulled her out for lots of different reasons but the main one being bullying and the schools inadequacy in dealing with it. So whilst I'm not to be offering advice because we're very much at the beginning of HE-ing I have to say that you posting on MN was definitely a good idea! There are loads of people who post on the Home Ed threads and I'm so glad to see that julieonsheos has already replied to you because she is one of the most helpful and informative people I have had the priviledge of chatting to. Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm certainly pleased and relieved to have taken the plunge. x

If your dd is happy at school and it's a great school I think it's a much harder decision to make - plus your dd might not appreciate the transition (or your objections to the system!)

My dc were miserable at school, not a good school either so the decision was easier!!

Music schools get their pupils to do fairly useless timewasting stuff to (as well as the music!!)
You may find that the music school will look more favourably on a child who has achieved musically as well as being at school, rather than one who is HE and therefore has more time to practise to be accepted.
Did you watch this years young musician of the year - some of the finalists went to ordinary state schools. All had an amazing ability - the fact they practises for hours just seemed to be an added bonus (to me anyway)

Not trying to put you off just raising a few issues.....

If it's a great school and your dd loves it there then it's a hard decision IF her year at school is oversubscribed. Is it? It would be a pity to try home ed, decide you don't like it, and be unable to get her back in there.

On the other hand if the school has spare places in her year group then I think you should just have a year off school to see what home education is like. Lots of kids love school but love home education even better, and there's only one way to be sure whether your dd could be one of these. Even if you decided not to carry on in the long run, think what a lot of fun you could have with a "gap year" off school to go see the sights and do projects.

This year I have become the queen of cheap Travelodge deals (£10-15 a night). We've stayed in London lots, in York twice, gone to the Eden project, to the seaside twice, and spent a week at a home ed camp. We also had a Merlin pass giving unlimited entry to many theme parks plus Warwick Castle, the London Eye and Sea Life. That all sounds exhausting but it really wasn't, since it was spread over a year and we had all the rest we wanted in between trips. This passion for going places is a new thing since both of my children are now old enough at last to be good travellers. Of course, the value of relaxing around the house and exploring whatever interests you is not to be underrated either!

By my calculations, school takes well over a thousand hours a year. Just imagine all the things your daughter could do with a thousand extra hours next year.

ThreadWatcher and Sarecen, you have hit the nail on the head. She is so happy at school but exhausted from all the extra activities on top of school. She doesn't want to stop any of them but she does do too much for her. I also have problems with the curriculum and feel that schools have to do things with kids that a parent would be doing if one was a sahp. I disagree with all these extra parties, event days, etc when dd can hardly read and write. The curriculum says shes above average, slightly. But I think the standard is poor. I am worried whether it would be fair to her but also if it would be unfair to deny her practice time. I know others do it but it makes her ill or so tired if she does it all.

Hi morethanpotatoprints

I also have a child who is happy at school and says he enjoys it, and am in the process of making this difficult desicion!

If they were miserable it would be an obvious choice for me, but DS isn't aware of the problems within the school yet.

I will be watching this thread with interest.

Have you had the discussion with your DD? How does she feel?

Hi WantAnOrange.
It is difficult when they are happy as ours are. However, the more I am reading the more I think we are steering towards HE for many reasons. Originally, it was concerning time to fit everything in especially music and dancing. I also have problems with the gov acceptable standards on the ncc. I think there has been a severe dumbing down over the years in particular the past 10 years, since older dc's went through the system.
She has said shes not looking forward to next year with the teacher for y4 although she likes y5 and y6 teachers. The secondary schools round here are really not good, although in fairness we live in an town with high areas of depravation and dd would be eaten up especially with the type of activities she enjoys.
I haven't said much as yet but she knows it is an option as we have discussed this in a homourous way before. i.e she says that school gets in her way and takes up too much time.
You will get alot of support here as there are many who HE for a variety of reasons. I think its important to realise there doesn't have to be anything wrong to consider HE, sometimes it what fits for you at a given time.
Don't be worried about asking questions I have asked several silly ones as you'll see. Stay on the board and find the links others have posted they are really informative and help alot.