Dating the DeReg letter help

[Thinking2014]

So I'm preparing the deregistration letter for the school...now my plan is my daughter will finish this year the same as everyone else but will not return in September, I planned to give the Head the letter on the last week of term, so on 14th of this month because they finish school on the 18th (half day)
Do I need to include in the letter that she will continue to go to school for that last week or do I give the letter on the last day instead?

Many thanks for your help!

morethanpotatoprints thank you :) I wouldn't mind being unnoticed ;)

Thanks everyone, I think I will add something then, if just a quick thank you just so they don't feel angry or anything! I heard some schools can be a bit vindictive when parents withdraw their children and tell the LA they have "concerns"...hopefully they don't try that...

Thinking

Sorry love just saw your question.
No, we didn't get a visit from EWO, although really we should have done as we weren't officially deregistered as far as the authority were concerned. They were very apologetic when they did find out and contact us.
I wasn't phased and hoped to have got away with it for longer so just said I wasn't bothered

Hello OP

We didn't thank the school in the letter but personally thanked the teachers that had supported and encouraged dd.
We had a great relationship with school though and find they are still supportive and interested when we visit.
For some though school has been a nightmare and they haven't been supported at all, if this was the case I would have said the bare minimum required by law.

Yes, same as Atia. It was a nice school and everyone was very friendly. I didn't want the school or the LA to think that my dd's departure indicated dissatisfaction with that particular school.

My eldest did a term at school when she was ten, and was then HE'd again, and in my dereg letter I did say something about it not being a negative reflection the school, that I'd been impressed with the steps taken to integrate her and grateful for the teacher's efforts.

They were very nice when she arrived and I did appreciate it, so no reason not to be nice when she left!

Did anyone add anything else into their de reg letter, for example, thanking the school for their support or something to that affect if applicable? I know reasons vary (some may be HE because of negative experiences with the school...) But I want to be polite really and try to leave on a friendly note iyswim? Not sure what to say though?

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support throughout my daughters time at the school and although it has not worked out to be the best option for my daughter I am grateful for the support given over the years" ?

I literally just made that up now so not sure its any good!

Thanks Saracen I did think this, I thought if they make an unreasonable request too soon I will simply say they should give us time to "de-school" as I haven't had enough time to write my report.

It does seem quite standard for LAs to contact families after deregistration and request information about the child's education, even though there is no legal basis for them to do this routinely in the absence of information which would lead them to believe the child is NOT being educated. You should respond to their queries in some way, even if it's only to challenge the legal basis of what they are asking from you.

A few HE parents draw a line in the sand and refuse to supply any info whatsoever unless the LA demonstrates that it already has specific grounds for concern about their particular child. But most parents are willing to supply some information when asked.

The LA will have to accept a letter from you rather than a meeting. This is spelled out in the government guidance to LAs: www.gov.uk/government/publications/elective-home-education :

"3.6 Some parents may welcome the opportunity to discuss the provision that they are making for the child's education during a home visit but parents are not legally required to give the local authority access to their home. They may choose to meet a local authority representative at a mutually convenient and neutral location instead, with or without the child being present, or choose not to meet at all. Where a parent elects not to allow access to their home or their child, this does not of itself constitute a ground for concern about the education provision being made. Where local authorities are not able to visit homes, they should, in the vast majority of cases, be able to discuss and evaluate the parents' educational provision by alternative means. If they choose not to meet, parents may be asked to provide evidence that they are providing a suitable education. If a local authority asks parents for information they are under no duty to comply although it would be sensible for them to do so.10 Parents might prefer, for example, to write a report, provide samples of work, have their educational provision endorsed by a third party (such as an independent home tutor) or provide evidence in some other appropriate form."

mum2tots I was thinking this...I wonder though how quickly I'll hear from EWO or LA though...rather hoping I don't hear from the first one but seems standard I will? Also hoping they'll accept a letter rather than a meeting...

We are just handing it in on the last day of term. Don't want DD treated unfairly when they know the decision. (wouldn't put it past the teacher or the head come to think of it)

morethanpotatoprints did you get a visit from an EWO?

We gave them 2 weeks notice and dd finished on the last day of term, so whatever the date was, we said after this date iyswim.
The school didn't inform the LA and they found out in December and were not happy with the HT.
We were finally contacted in January.

We gave the DC's school a half terms warning and said that (whatever date) of July would be their last day.

Ah thanks, that would be better :)

You can say in the letter that you want her to be taken off the register on X date, or maybe in your case I'd say "After 18th July" and maybe something like "as she will not be returning to school after the summer break".

I think that would make it clear enough.