Seriously thinking about Home Ed

[wongy]

My ds age 9 has Aspergers Syndrome, although he sort of copes at school over the last fews years he has found school stressful, especialy at the beginning of each school new year with the new teacher and surroundings etc. Teachers struggle to get him to stay concentrated and do his work, he then distracts other children and has to go into time out to finish his work or becasue he has got into trouble, I have meetings over the years with the Head and teachers, they all seem to want to help (lip service i think) but then he seems to get ingnored. His teacher now, is young and in a class of 30 children and Im told they have alot of characterss in the class(teachers words), hes just not coping and has asked me if he can be home schooled.
My husband and I are self employed, the 2 of us work together and my Ds comes to work with us in the hols.he has is own Tv and pc there. So it got me thinking maybe Home Ed could work. We can be flexible at work to a degree. So we can do the outdoor stuff too. He struggles with friendship and says he wont miss his class mates. He goes to drama and I would plan for him to have music lessons. Interested if anyone is in a smilar situation.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

om I understand why you are shouting about that, makes sense.

However, I've been told that we'll need to prove (to the LEA / council people) that DS is getting a proper education at home so I've started a little folder to record any "lessons" we've done during each day. Trying to keep it light and have let DS choose what to do.

Also under a lot of pressure from family who think we're allowing DS to "just stay home and mess about". They don't seem to understand he learns so much just by asking random questions. For example he saw someone on TV wearing a turban which started a discussion and Google search about Sikhism.

QueenStreaky it's good to hear from someone with an older child who has come through HE successfully. Trouble is I will need to return to work within the next 18 months so we will be looking for another, more suitable school place.

[QueenStreaky]

Always I'm guessing you're in Wales, if you have to provide evidence? In England it's not necessary according to the 2007 Guidelines, though some LAs will disregard that and try to implement their own policies. However, if you're intending him to go back into school within 18 months it probably is sensible to keep him up to speed academically.

Have you considered applying for Education Health and Care plan (EHCP)? I would recommend you think about it, soon and before you have to return to work, so that you can have a documented history of need and guaranteed support for him from the outset. If not, you'd have to start from scratch once he's in school and it could take months before proper provision is in place. It IS do-able whilst home educating (don't let your LA tell you otherwise) - I did it to get my son proper support for college.

Actually, if you ARE in Wales I think it's still statements, but don't quote me as I'm not up to date on Welsh legislation (Saracen will put me right - she knows everything).

[ommmward]

You can keep a record of learning without imposing formal adult led "work". You can keep a diary where you make a note of the educationally valuable activities and conversations that happened each day, without your

[ommmward]

... Without your child even being aware of it.

[QueenStreaky]

Yep, that's what I did, and when I sent a report to the EHE officer I included a list of stuff we'd done. Keeping a diary is a useful reference, and very easy to look back on your activities rather than trying to remember it all at report time.

[CrazyLoopholeInTimeAndSpace]

We use a program called skedtrack. If you are doing more unschooling you can use it too via the hobby log. Then you can just print a report

[AlwaysDancing1234]

Thanks again Crazy Queen and om you've all been marvellous

We are in England, it's just school worried me by saying we may need to provide evidence of ongoing education to LEA.

I've let DS choose worksheets, do stuff on coding websites which he loves, nothing too heavy and he's actually asked for more French worksheets so he's enjoying picking and choosing. We made a 'HomeSchool' folder together and I'm keeping worksheets and adding in a sheet at the end of the day with diary notes.

Will look in to EHCP. Started down the assessment route for ASD with sensory processing disorder but as we are moving next month it's ground to a halt as they said wait til we move and get re-referred to new healthcare authority etc. So more waiting.

[QueenStreaky]

Schools rarely know the law regarding EHE because it doesn't concern them, so they make assumptions that are frequently inaccurate .

If you haven't already, read the 2007 Guidelines so you know all about rights and responsibilities on both sides, then you will be better prepared to argue your case if you ever need to.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

Some bedtime reading, thanks Queen Streaky

[Saracen]

And you can even have it confirmed by the DfE in response to a Parliamentary question a few weeks ago: "Local authorities do not have a general responsibility to monitor the education provided by parents, for the purposes of ensuring that parents are meeting their responsibilities."

www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2016-01-19/HL5209/

[Saracen]

but those guidelines to which QueenStreaky linked are the best thing to read. That is the most recent guidance document issued to LAs telling them what they should be doing with respect to home ed, so it still applies.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

Thank you Saracen for your knowledge and the link. I'm the sort of person who likes to read and (try to) absorb everything I can on a subject so I can be confident I know what I'm talking about if questions are asked.

We had what DS called a "HomeSchool Trip" today to Science Museum and Natural History, he had a whale of a time and I gave him an old digital camera to take photos so we can make a scrap book over the weekend. He didn't enjoy it when he went with school as dislikes being hearded about in a group but LOVED it today and we just pottered about at his pace. He asked lots of intelligent questions and I was impressed with his science knowledge. (Proud Mum icon )

[knittingwithnettles]

My experience is that when you are home educating for a short time, applying for an EHCP causes a lot of disruption. I really regret spending so much of my emotional energy on it at a quite critical time in ds's new life; I really resent that the bureaucrats stole that from me [rueful].

So just that mild caveat! EHCP process puts a lot of child's difficulties in the spotlight when you are trying to approach things in a more positive way and work to their strengths. I applied last Spring and it is still isn't finalised, so many meetings and assessments just so that we can dovetail back into their tiresome system

You may find of course that when you put your child back into school you have a much better awareness of his needs, which can inform the school SEN department; certainly I have a lot more confidence about what ds can and cannot do now.

I do also know of one home educating mother who works and pays childcare to take her child to local groups/activities on a few days, that seems to work too (although not my way of doing things) She mentioned that in previous years there had been plenty of child swops too that left her time to work shifts.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

Thanks nettles that's an interesting perspective on it