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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:
TheHotdog · 05/02/2023 09:18

Nope.

Also big red flags here of why you want to keep your kids a secret.

MichelleScarn · 05/02/2023 09:18

Am not in education so wouldn't know, but what would be safeguarding rules the unknown adults on the school grounds? Knowing about emergency contacts etc for children not at the school, where would they store this info?

stepkidscopingstrategy · 05/02/2023 09:18

There are some horrible replies on here.
OP ignore the horrible ones. In principle I think your idea is nice - your child gets to mix with local children too.
To All the haters- perhaps OP's children are being educated at home means that YOUR children get more attention. And do you actually blame OP for wanting to keep her kids out of the government controlled god awful school system? Its mind blowingly controlling - turning the kids into robots ready to move into their office / coding jobs. I've not home schooled any of mine but I sometimes wish I had!

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2023 09:25

But she wants her child to benefit from activities run by the government controlled god awful school system

Oblomov23 · 05/02/2023 09:25

You shouldn't be allowed surely? If you HE, you can't then rock up to a school activity. That's not how it works.

Teaandtoast3 · 05/02/2023 09:52

As a fellow home educator, no I wouldn’t try this personally. I don’t think that’s how flexi-schooling works. I would look for a different group. You could even make your own home educating choir group if you wanted. I presume you’ve joined your local home ed groups? Ask if there’s any interest on those.

SunonmyFace · 05/02/2023 09:58

Our local authority runs accessible choirs and other music groups for local school children.it is Not linked to individual schools.

HufflepuffRavenclaw · 05/02/2023 10:06

Flexi schooling is where a child attends school part time on a schedule which suits them. I have a friend whose child just attends in the morning. That is flexi schooling, not opting out of school entirely, yet expecting to rock up and join the school choir.

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 10:06

Given that there are worries about children who aren't in school going under the radar I think it would be great if schools were inclusive to home ed children. Lots of home ed children do go to school at some point so why not involve them? Obviously depends on there being spaces.

The LA could sort some funding, after all the parents doing home ed are saving them money.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 05/02/2023 10:10

I can’t see this being acceptable gif the school who run the choir. it is their choir for their pupils. They will perform at school concerts, assemblies etc.

There will be safeguards in place and you not wanting the LA to have knowledge of your child will raise red flags and they may well have a duty to raise this immediately.

there is loads of non school based music provision in our area. Are you willing to say what part of the country you’re in @00100001 , perhaps we could help you to find something, though there would probably be a cost associated with it.

Yerroblemom1923 · 05/02/2023 10:13

No. Why should they? I think they'd take your request as cheeky (not to mention dodgy!) AF, OP.
Find a local church choir or something unrelated to the school.

coralgeo · 05/02/2023 10:18

Why stop at the choir? Maybe they'd let your child join in with sports day as well, and it'd be worth asking if they can have a part in the nativity.

Honestly the cheek of it

Shinyredbicycle · 05/02/2023 10:21

I thought that home ed involved making this fact known to the LA?

The LA ensuring that children outside the schooling system are receiving an education is a good thing, surely, not a 'pita'?

NerrSnerr · 05/02/2023 10:22

Many primary school choirs are over subscribed anyway.

I couldn't see it working, these clubs are funded by the school and that's why they're free/ very cheap. It would seem unfair for home ed children to come and take the places of the children who the funding is actually for.

This is the downside of home ed I suppose, having to pay for clubs, exams etc.

evemillbank · 05/02/2023 10:24

Where do you live? Where we are the after school clubs are massively over subscribed so there's no way a non pupil would be given a place.

FrownedUpon · 05/02/2023 10:24

A definite no here. School choirs are for pupils of the school, not randoms.

gogohmm · 05/02/2023 10:25

I doubt it, insurance etc would not cover them if it's school run. Also there is a waiting list for many clubs. Why not just go to a community choir? School isn't something you can opt in and out of only doing the nice things

NerrSnerr · 05/02/2023 10:26

I also imagine that the school can't just have random kids pitch up for some activities if not 'officially' registered at the school. I'm thinking about insurance etc.

gogohmm · 05/02/2023 10:27

And why do you not want the lea to know about your children? What have you got to hide? Of course if they register for any activities at the school they would need all your details

Silverbook · 05/02/2023 10:43

I’ve ever been this blunt but there’s a first for everything…

you come across as a PITA CF.

You want your child to opt into a benefit that’s for children who attend school but only if you can remain unknown to the LA?!

Mummyoflittledragon · 05/02/2023 10:46

Basically you want the school to look after your dc for an hour or so a week when they’re unknown to the LA. This is very odd and I cannot imagine the school would do this due to safeguarding.

BungleandGeorge · 05/02/2023 10:53

You need to be on school roll for flexi schooling. You’re not considering joining the school roll so I doubt it’s possible. They won’t receive funding for your child so wouldn’t be able to provide facilities for them.
have you considered a church choir or Salvation Army? Are there any home education groups with choir? Possibly also brownies although the singing will be a minority part of it

Shinyredbicycle · 05/02/2023 10:53

Also schools don't admit children on the basis of parents 'popping in'.

Admissions are administered through the LA.

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 11:04

gogohmm · 05/02/2023 10:27

And why do you not want the lea to know about your children? What have you got to hide? Of course if they register for any activities at the school they would need all your details

She clearly isn't trying to hide anything from the LEA or she wouldn't consider contacting the school to ask about the choir.

lottie2888 · 05/02/2023 11:08

Even if they said yes, which I don’t think could tbh then it might be a bit overwhelming for your child. Around lots of kids that all know each other. I wonder if another setting might be better where all the children are from different schools so not so many already established friendship groups.