Ex partner taking me to court WRT HE

[BantyCustards]

I have one week to put together a kick-arse Ed Philosophy for my preschooler.

I already have a child who has been home educated for nearly 3 years and doing well so that is in my favour.

I have a barrister who is well versed in arguing the pros if HE.

Can you lovely lot help me with links to resources/articles/excellent examples of Ed Philosophy's?

I'm exhausted and burned out after nearly a year of litigation - I quite literally am paralysed at how to put together a persuasive argument as to why home ex is the best way forward for the youngest as well

you need to be looking for buzz words like flexible, differentiation for the child's needs, wider experiences than those offered in school. (extra curricular, learning through experience, trips etc. greater one to one time with educator. prove you are providing a broad and balanced curriculum. (ex teacher who knows that the time individual children and juggling a range of abilities in the class means that a very short period of one to one time is just as effective as being in a class)

education otherwise had some useful stuff.

Well, why do you think home ed is the best way forward? Just say that.

I would also make sure that your philosophy answers the questions home educators know aren't an issue but an independent judge won't. Socialisation springs to mind , as does making sure the child gets a wide range of viewpoints and not just yours. I know these things aren't an issue - because I've had two go right through home ed - but an outsider won't. So get them into your philosophy and head off those things at the pass.

I'm a member of a local HE group on Facebook and they have some fab resources. Could you see if there is one local to you you could meet with someone to get some help? What about HE websites? They'd be a good place to start.

Also agree with Trying to think how a stranger to HE might think and pre empt the questions they will ask. Think of all the prejudices that exist about HE and put together some answers to those objections.

All good points. And noted.

I'm luck in that I have one of the few barristers in the UK with experience and knowledge of HE representing me but we're in quite a time crunch and meeting up before the court date is an issue so I'm trying to get ahead of the game a bit.

Why is your opinion any more valid than father's?

Possibly because the father was quite happy with HE and praised it's virtues until I left him?

Given his behaviour throughout this whole case he is angry and wanting to keep as much control as possible.

Why is your opinion any more valid than father's?

I would have though because home ed maintains the status quo for the children. Putting the little one in school and being tied to school times and terms and all the restrictions that brings will negatively impact on the current, successful, education of the elder one. It makes no sense for the father to suddenly object to something which has been, and continues to be, working well.

Agree continuity for the child in the wake of the split.

Ed Yourself, the website, has been recommended to me by someone really knowledgeable about HE as being really experienced in legal disputes, including this kind of dispute.

Also consider working with the local EO or even Ofsted to assess the quality of the education you offer. This is obvs better done with the advice of locals to your LEA, who will know what the general attitude of the LEA is. This is a good way to show that you are committed to negotiating and taking on board the father's concerns.