Documenting Your Dc'so Education - Advice on Record Keeping

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My child would be in Reception, if they were in school.

Up until now I haven't actually kept any record of what we have been doing. I have been carring on pretty much as when they were in preschool. All teaching has been informal, with them not really noticing they are being taught - With lots of games.

However, I am aware that they are compulsory school age now. I am keen to do this well. I was wondering, what sort of records do others keep? I was thinking of keeping a photo diary, of what we do. Also a Reading Record would probably be good. What do local education authorities normally expect?

I am just anxious to get everything right. It doesn't really help that my child likes to do their writing on a whiteboard or Magnadoodle, so they can easily erase their mistakes!

They will probably be going to school eventually, so I do what to be able to show what we have done.

Thanks

I have a blog and write an annual report for myself.
I don't keep anything but nice art or something special for sentimental reasons.
When my eldest chose to go to school in yr 6 I had a meeting with the school and showed them Maths and English stuff he was currently working on and have them an honest summary of where I thought he was at. They weren't really interested to be honest.
Record keep if it is useful for you, but don't make work for yourself because you think you'll need it to show others.others
I love looking back over my blog, it dates from when my youngest was reception age and he's now a teen studying for GcSEs but it is very much a personal thing.

I agree with itsstillgood. You don't need to keep detailed records. Home educating parents in some other countries do, but throughout the UK there is no requirement to do so. Do whatever is helpful to you and your own child. If the LA ever contact you - which they may never do, as they will be unaware of your child if they've not been to school - you can send off a short report outlining in general terms how you educate, with a few examples.

If you and your child would enjoy keeping a photo diary to look back on what you've learned, by all means do that. But make it for you. Otherwise you will always be imagining someone judgemental looking over your shoulder. That fear can easily push people down the wrong path.

"It doesn't really help that my child likes to do their writing on a whiteboard or Magnadoodle, so they can easily erase their mistakes!" In fact, I think that is brilliant. Your child is making it clear that their learning is their own private business and that they don't want anyone looking at their mistakes. Freedom from judgement will allow them to take risks. Learning is all about taking risks. Many kids will attempt things in secret which they won't try if they think they're on display.

When we started we kept a daily diary and labelled all work with dates etc he is older 4 years in now so loads is on line but also have a private Instagram account where only a handful of people have access I upload any thing we think could be relevent or any groups activities that way when we get our meeting as yes it's our choice and we chose to meet its there for our officer to see I'm happy enough to give her open access to it at all times I have nothing to hide . It's easy this way as I can just snap and upload brief write up before the next sip if my tea job done

I wouldn't bother for that age. My kids are older and I keep a simple diary. I just go month by month and write down what we do as we do it, colour coded for which kid. I keep certificates or test results filed away.

I know some people use an app that works like a photo diary, can't for the life of me remember the name...

I'm so glad someone recommended a photo journal when we started. It is so interesting to look back on, and see what we did and how tiny the kids looked, for our own interest (although the EHE officer also loved it when we used to have visits). We do annual reports now so I make sure I've got everything in the diary so I know what to put in the report at the end of the year.
I agree with pp who said that school don't care as they'll do their own observations as they go along once the child joins.

Thank you