Home Education Officer visit tomorrow - what do I say?

[elskovs]

Hello, Ive really left this til the last minute and am kicking myself. Id just sort of put it out of my head, we had the EWO over a couple of months back, and there is another visit tomorrow.

I don't have anything prepared in the way of time tables or proof of learning. This is mostly because I wanted to avoid that sort of written desk work as my 5 year old is not ready for it IMO.

I don't have a plan for his education, I only wanted to put off the formal learning for another year.

Is this not going to be good enough?

Do a brainstorm with us of the sorts of things you do in a typical day/ week/ month.

Think about how any of those might be classed as

PE
literacy (reading to him counts...)
numeracy (kitchen maths?!)
art/craft
biology (any gardening or walking out in the woods or anything)

It's just a matter of putting an educational spin on what you are doing normally. Be ready to explain that you don't do formal learning (and be ready to cite your justifications for that - have a little read up on things like the Sandra Dodd unschooling website).

alternatively, ring them up in the morning and say that you've recently become aware of the 2007 Elective Home education guidelines here and, in line with those guidelines, you have decided not to receive a home visit on this occasion. Instead, you'll send a written report within the next three weeks. That gives you more time to work out what it is you are trying to achieve with your child and how, and how you facilitate his learning. We are unschoolers and there is NO WAY I would allow an EWO into my house - too much danger of the EWO not understanding or valuing what we do with our children.

Agree with ommmward 100%.

Thanks ommward. That's really helpful. Ive got a few hours until she gets here so will have a look at that website and do a brainstorm.

Hi

Are you OK to say which LA this is? In some areas it's the EWO first, to tick a box, and then someone who actually knows more (or should know more!) about home education follows afterwards.

You will be aware that you don't have to have a plan or do formal work or produce evidence for the LA. I have a lot of info about this on my website which is called edyourself. (I can't link to it, unfortunately)

Five year olds don't learn times tables in school so definitely wouldn't be expected to do that at home.

In school my 5 year olds are doing Xmas play, learning about toys, cooking, measuring, learning about other countries and pretending to go to those countries ( dressing up, songs, food, music, transport etc), nature confers etc, counting, reading and talking about books. You are likely to be doing all that at home.

Why go through the hassle and worry of a visit when you don't have to? We declined. I don't want a welfare officer in my house! We don't have welfare problems. My kids are incredibly happy and learning really well :) It's an individual decision but I wouldn't let a welfare person into my home or near my kiddies.

I know this is too late for you, but for others you could say that you are learning through play, perhps modelled on one of the eyfs curricula. (think they are on about number 3 now. )