post 16?

[mrsl21]

Hello, I have been home educating my children for a number of years & I am trying to find EXACTLY what the law states regarding home educators. I have scouring goverment websites to find out what the education act states.
Do we HAVE to continue with some form of education? Or can our children work part time?
Thanks.

Thanks for this Saracen, I'll look into it. We were initially thinking of NEC, but dd is adamant she wants to go it alone. Might have to think otherwise if finances are really screwed over.

I think you are, but I'm not sure: edyourself.org/articles/claimbenefitspost16s.php

I don't know all the ins and outs of it, but here's a thought: if there are any online course providers which are recognised for purposes of CB and Tax Credits, would it be worth signing up to do A levels that way even if it wouldn't have been your daughter's preference? I appreciate that it isn't cheap, but if you calculate how that option compares with sacrificing the benefits then perhaps it would still save money. You'd have to work out how many of the A levels would have to be done with the course provider in order to count as "full time".

Thanks Saracen, that's good news about the EWO, we coul all do without that stress again. this is getting financially terrifying. Am I likely to lose tax credits too?

Hi Pianist, no, you won't have to have any further dealings with the LA. For one thing, once your daughter has finished compulsory school age later this month, the duty for her to remain in education or training becomes hers and not yours. For another, the government has stated that it is not (yet) criminalising young people for failing to comply. And finally, home education is an accepted alternative to meet the requirements anyway. So nobody will be on your back about this.

However, for purposes of qualifying for Child Benefit, home education post-16 is only recognised if the home education began before the young person was 16. So you are likely to lose that.

Fiona Nicholson's edyourself website is always a good starting point for this sort of info: edyourself.org/articles/leavingage.php

I'm in almost exactly this position; dd had been flexischooling for the last term of year 11, but prior to that she was officially in school (despite an overall attendence by flexischooling start of less than 60%... Long story)
She's HEdding from September, doing a levels at home without using online course providers. Am I going to have a fight on my hands with the LEA? I've spent the two years battling EWOs and attendance officers (the last two got told to lay off otherwise I would make official complaints of harrassment... That seemed to get shot of them for 6 months at a time) anyway, I was hopin I was done with them?

Hi no the la hasn't I just eant to be clear of the law in my own mind. I have akso found this since my last post.

For young people who are being home educated, no hourly requirement of education applies: the amount and content of that education is at the discretion of the home educator. In most circumstances it will be the young person themselves who states that they are home-educated. If the authority believes there is some doubt in the matter they may wish to seek confirmation of this from the parent or guardian, but no on-going monitoring of the education is required."
"Defining Participation" pdf Annex 1

Raise in participation came after education act so it wont be in the original. R.in.Partic will be an amendment to education act.

All you will need to do is continue what you are already doing to meet the requirements. If your DC wants a part time job as well then that is fine as alot of college students have one. Has the LA queried this with you?

It was in the Education and Skills Act 2008.

As you have a history of HEd, then demonstrating that you are continuing should not be onerous.

It will probably be an issue only for those who have previously used schools throughout, as I can easily see why people might try to use at to deflect from their 16/17 and idc 18 yo actually doing nothing.

Sorry, I meant to add this is what i have found so far.

Participation will not be enforced
"We want young people to participate actively and voluntarily and so we will ensure that the education system has in place attractive options and the necessary support to make young people enthusiastic about learning. That is why, through the Education Act, we have legislated to give ourselves the ability to delay the introduction of the enforcement process against young people and their parents"

Hi thanks for your reply, can you tell me where it sats this in the education act?

All young people have to remain in a form of education until 18yrs. This could be 6th form, apprenticeship, job with accreditayed training or college placement.

Alot of students will only be at college 23hrs a week and alot of them will have a part time job.

Google Raise in Participation age rather than education act. This might be more helpful.