Do H.Ed children need an annual review from the Ed panel every year?

[Rafanderpants]

I have nothing to hide, DC gets good solid home schooling and we do a lot of work, DC had an annual review last year, they were quite satisfied with it, but does it need to be done every single year? by law?

I have asked my PWP and she said yes theyd come and assess, but if that's the case why didn't they get in touch with me instead I was the one who contacted them?

-bit of background-Im DCs senco too as DC has learning difficulties and cannot cope in a school envioronment, hence my decision to H.E. therefore DC doesn't do the curriculum, works to her abilities and limitations, therefeore no SATS or anything.

No, you absolutely do not have to have an annual review. You can write to your PWP and say "thank you very much for offering to come and assess, but we have decided to decline a visit this year. Our approach has not changed since last year, when the educational provision was described as . According to the 2007 EHE guidelines, we'd rather not have the disruption of a visit this time. All best".

Others will be along to advise soon :)

All the law says is that, if they have reason to think your DC may not be getting a suitable education, they can ask you to provide them with information to show that he/she is getting one.

In practice, if they ask, it is reasonable to provide them with information, but that can be written or any other way you choose to provide it, they have no legal right to require to meet with your DC or have you jump through any specific 'hoops' that they may have picked.

It's worth being able to tell them what your 'educational philisophy' is, but that can be quite vague and doesn't need to come with any particular targets or anything like that.

And it's worth being able to tell them, at least in general terms, what you've been doing lately.

That's all they have any legal right to expect of you. No 'annual reviews' necessary.

I think all areas have annual reviews but its up to you how involved you want them to be.
Ours don't push for a visit, or to see the kids, examples of work etc.
They do expect me to complete their form which basically states we are still happy to H.ed, some of the resources we have used, how we meet any sn, and PHSE and H&S ed, that you would do with them anyway.

@morethan: "I think all areas have annual reviews"

Most LAs attempt to carry out annual reviews, but that doesn't make it right. The government guidelines make it clear there is no legal basis for them to do this: "2.7 Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis." LAs are on dodgy ground when they try to do this, and people who don't want to comply should feel free to rebuff attempts at routine monitoring.

If the LA has previously been satisfied that the education provided is adequate, and they've received no new information to the contrary, then an annual review cannot be described as anything other than monitoring.

Fine for you to complete their annual form if you don't mind doing so, of course, but if the OP doesn't want to then that's OK too.

Our council (city down South) decided a few years ago that it couldn't afford any staff so we don't have any reviews or contact by them. However if we want to we can contact the ewo for advice/help.

Than ks for replying.
As I said, Im quite happy to show people DCs work, but DC gets agitated when 2 or 3 people are in the house 'assessing' her, id rather not have the disruption to her.

we are moving house next month and ive told them Ive packed most things away and if anything once wree settled in next place if they want to see they can? haven't had a reply from them yet.

But I will say what ommmward suggests too,as our approach is still the same and alweays will be and I will be H'Eing for the rest of her schooldays.

Saracen yes they said last time I was doing more in a day than DC would have done in a week at school, so they know Im consistent and stuff.

Thanks, Ill bring all suggestions and replies up with them.

I should have waited for them to get in touch, not me pursuing them.

Saracen

I think I got it wrong sorry.
My thoughts were more on the line of what constitutes an annual review, some authorities may ask for evidence others may not.
I presumed we had to respond to them or at least we were better off cooperating with them. I also presumed everyone had a review of some sort, I stand corrected. You learn something new everyday.
Sorry for confusing folks, I'm having a day of it today.
I need a break.

Don't worry morethan, it does seem widely accepted in HE circles that while LAs don't have the right to require information in any specific format such as a home visit, they do have the right to get something out of you on an annual basis.

It puzzles me that nearly everyone accepts that idea. There is no evidence of any legal requirement for annual contact: not the government guidelines, nor the law, nor case law... it just seems to be one of those ideas that everybody has latched onto.

Saracen I've read up a lot on this and it does seem to be tolerated by HEdders to send info almost every year, after reading this though I don't believe I'll stand for that and quote what ommmward said.

If they have no grounds to monitor then I won't allow them to try! Its ridiculous really, you'd think they'd have better things to do with their time... [Hmm]

thanks again for all replies. .

Well, Thinking, while you have got your radical hat on I could entice you even further up the path toward becoming a PITA for LA jobsworths

We were discussing the OP's situation. She has already satisfied the LA regarding her child's education and doesn't want to have to repeat this exercise on an annual basis. But you haven't had any dealings with your LA yet, so you are at an earlier stage. You could supply them with some information as a one-off and then give them nothing more thereafter, just as she is considering doing. Or you could decline to give them anything whatsoever in the first place.

The law says that "If it appears to a local education authority that a child of compulsory school age in their area is not receiving suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise" then the LA must intervene. Beyond this, they have no duty to take an interest in a child's home education. Therefore, if your LA asks you for information about how you are educating your child, you could tell them that you will comply only after they have explained why it appears to them that your child is not being educated suitably! Given that they are unlikely to have any information about how your child is being educated, they won't have any sound basis for believing that the education is unsuitable.

A number of home educators have taken this line. It's a small number, admittedly. To me it is important to press home the point that the law does not require half of the compliance which LAs are attempting to extract from parents. My own LA appears totally baffled by this stance and backs off; others are more persistent.

I agree Saracen :) my hope is to provide them with initial information but if there are no grounds for monitoring then I won't entertain it.

Good luck OP, hope you get the outcome you aim for regarding these reviews.

I was contacted over a week ago and have yet to hear anything back!

thing is we're moving soon and so ive packed most things away, just sticking to basics atm.

You're under no obligation to tell them your new address... that's one way not to be monitored!

oh no Id never do that, Im too honest for my own good!

and theyd prob want to see where and how Im HEing in new place?

I will bring all these points up though.

It's no more dishonest than telling them you don't want any more home visits. They ask your new address, you say "There's no requirement for me to tell you"... I wouldn't give the double glazing salespeople my new address either, however much they might want it.

The LA may well want to see where and how you are HEing in the new place. They may also want to see you dress up in a sparkly tutu and sing "Blue Moon" but that doesn't mean you are legally obliged to do it.

The question is, do you want to make the bureaucrats happy or do you want to tell them you are unwilling to do more than the law requires?

Hi

You said you were the SENCO for your child. Does this mean he has a statement of SEN. And is this England or Wales?

Yes DC has statement, and she went to infant and juniors but that was a total nightmare so I pulled her out in the middle of her last year, and it was the best decision ever for both of us.

we are in England.

Saracen good idea, Ill dress up in a tutu for their visit! . thatll makem run a mile and they'll never darken my doors again!!!

TBH I don't mind, in the sense ,that I know, and they know its all going well, and Im quite proud of her work and show it off a bit, but maybe id say leave the inspection for a couple of years or if I come across any problems I know where to contact them.

its just Id like to have the choice, not the Spanish inquisition that happened when DC was at school.

posted too soon! they are very supportive, this particular ed panel, unlike the last one in another county, (we moved because of their bullying tactics and discrimination), so this ed lot are much more laid back and not CCTV like.

Good news

while the statement is in force the LA has a duty to review it annually. This isn't meant to be an inspection of the home ed though! You don't have to attend the review meeting; you should be invited but you are free to decline.