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Home ed

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Original poster

Can my home ed DC join the local primary school after-school choir?

108 replies

PerspicaciousGreen · 05/02/2023 08:19

We're thinking of having my DC join a just-for-fun choir. Our local primary school is just round the corner and has a no-audition choir for it's pupils. My thinking is that if schools can allow flexi-schooling at their discretion then in theory they could allow attendance at after-school clubs at their discretion too. It might be nice in the future if they could join a sports club too.

Has anyone else done this? Any advice on how to make the enquiry to make it most successful?

Also, we are currently unknown to the LA. Does the school have a duty to notify the LA if I pop up with my home ed children, or can I ask them not to? I'm not too bothered about it, but it seems like a PITA I'd prefer not to deal with.

OP posts:
PortiasBiscuit · 05/02/2023 08:20

Won’t do any harm to ask. Our secondary school orchestra allows primary school children to play.

Hercisback · 05/02/2023 08:21

I'd find clubs not linked to school doing those things.
I doubt the school will let them join. We wouldn't allow non school students to join school clubs.

Choice4567 · 05/02/2023 08:23

No harm asking but it does seem unlikely they’d let a non pupil join. Purely for things like insurance having an child there who isn’t registered with the school

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2023 08:24

Many school clubs are free, are you trying to get free activities after opting out of the school system

BendingSpoons · 05/02/2023 08:25

I think it's unlikely but you can ask. I think having a duty of care for a non-attending pupil could be tricky, plus they aren't getting any funding for your DC. I think with secondary it is slightly different as it is often seen as outreach to link with local primaries, to share excellence and possibly encourage pupils.

Fleabigg · 05/02/2023 08:27

After school clubs at my DC’s school are free, because the school subsidise them. I wouldn’t be happy if the school was paying for a load of kids who don’t even go there and whose families have no connection with the school whatsoever.

I think you’d be better off exploring non-school music and sports clubs.

msbevvy · 05/02/2023 08:27

In my experience the after school clubs are oversubscribed and there are not enough places for all

R0ckets · 05/02/2023 08:27

If say it's unlikely. The chior is for children who attend the school I can't see how the school would allow a child who didn't attend the school to join, by that logic anyone could join the chior. Children from out of area or from other schools and the chior would be full of children who didn't attend the school who then missed out.

I'm sure there are plenty of other opportunities your child could join in with not linked to the school.

NoSquirrels · 05/02/2023 08:29

If it’s a school-run club for pupils, led by teachers or TAs, then I’d think no. And don’t ask if you don’t want scrutiny on home schooling.

If it’s a club led by an external provider, using the school premises, maybe, worth asking.

00100001 · 05/02/2023 08:29

Nope. Why would they?

The kid isn't on roll, so there'd probably be insurance issues, and opening uoa whole can if worms if random children are allowed to use the school for activities

00100001 · 05/02/2023 08:30

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2023 08:24

Many school clubs are free, are you trying to get free activities after opting out of the school system

Well, presumably she's paying tax and for her kids "place" at a school, Simon paper isn't stealing anything from anyone

ZenNudist · 05/02/2023 08:31

No this is a bad idea. What age dc? Could they join a church choir? Plenty of other singing groups they could join not connected to a school

ChildminderMum · 05/02/2023 08:31

Very unlikely I think.

With flexi-schooling the child is officially a student at the school and gets full funding etc.

Have you tried googling for 'young musician' type organisations in your area?

00100001 · 05/02/2023 08:32

Also, school choirs tend to only perform at school events... Your child would never be able to participate in any performances.

Find a youth singing choir it one of those performing arts classes

horseymum · 05/02/2023 08:32

In Scotland we have national youth choir branches in most council areas, not linked to specific schools, maybe there is something similar where you are?

TheOtherBoleynGirls · 05/02/2023 08:32

An outside provision yes, but you can’t really opt out entirely of the school system but then pick and choose bits you want to attend. If you were talking to them about flexi schooling that might be different.

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2023 08:32

Schools get funding per pupil on their roll, @00100001 They will not be getting any funding for OP’s child

Pinkflipflop85 · 05/02/2023 08:33

At our school it would be a firm no.

00100001 · 05/02/2023 08:33

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2023 08:32

Schools get funding per pupil on their roll, @00100001 They will not be getting any funding for OP’s child

True

00100001 · 05/02/2023 08:34

00100001 · 05/02/2023 08:32

Also, school choirs tend to only perform at school events... Your child would never be able to participate in any performances.

Find a youth singing choir it one of those performing arts classes

Same issue with sports clubs, they'd only ever be able to do the practice/training, they'd never be able to olbe on the team.

There's usually loads of sports groups around... Why do you want the school ones?

Notanotherone5 · 05/02/2023 08:35

TheOtherBoleynGirls · 05/02/2023 08:32

An outside provision yes, but you can’t really opt out entirely of the school system but then pick and choose bits you want to attend. If you were talking to them about flexi schooling that might be different.

At our school, you can’t even sign up to the outside provision after school clubs. They make it very clear on the on-line registration

HavfrueDenizKisi · 05/02/2023 08:35

I think that would be a strong no from the school to be honest.

If it's run by teachers for the school pupils they know, for free, then they would have to say no to a complete outsider joining in. Various safeguarding issues would be the reason I'd expect.

But seriously, I think it would be incredibly cheeky of you to ask anyway!

But then again you could ask and be surprised.

Riverlee · 05/02/2023 08:35

NoSquirrels · 05/02/2023 08:29

If it’s a school-run club for pupils, led by teachers or TAs, then I’d think no. And don’t ask if you don’t want scrutiny on home schooling.

If it’s a club led by an external provider, using the school premises, maybe, worth asking.

That was my thought.

However, if you want your dc to join a local choir or sports club, why don’t you see what’s run in your local area? I’ve just googled my local area and found junior choirs, and I know there’s youth sports clubs covering a huge range of sports - netball, basketball, athletics etc.

blitzen · 05/02/2023 08:35

I'd advise you to get in touch with your local music education hub as they will have info on choirs for you, for all children.

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2023 08:36

@Riverlee I assume OP wants to use the school clubs as they are free