Do I own up to moving back to LEA where DD was previously known?

[Psychomumma]

I've just been e-mailed (can't remember giving the address but must have) by a lady responsible for 'monitoring' home-ed kids in Southwark (SE London). She met me and eldest DD in Oct 2007 (the nursery school she attended for a few weeks 'had' to disclose to the LEA that she was now being HE'd, even tho I didn't have to ). Her name is Alison, and she's actually very nice! A down-to-earth Scot, she was perfectly happy about HE, happily met me at the local library, didn't quiz DD at all, wrote a decent report and then left us alone. Subsequently we moved LEA, but in the last month have moved back into Southwark - and NOW she e-mails me! Wants to meet again. DD is now six, very much of school age now, so I don't know if expectations/requirements will suddenly have sharpened...

Am I being paranoid? She was perfectly nice last time, so why not now? I just feel so much more relaxed not being 'known' to the LEA, as you never know what gov policy is going to come up with next. But I would be lying by ommission if I ignore her e-mail, which I would feel bad about... What to do?!!

If you're confident enough to home educate then you're confident enough to have a perfectly professional discusssion with this person!

And if things have changed then she'll give you that information and you can read it and then carry on doing things your way.

Has she emailed you as a random act of friendliness or because she knows you've moved back into Southwark? Because if it's the latter, then you are "known" and there are certain things you need to do if required.

DO NOT ignore messages from them. That puts you in a bad position legally. If she's acting in an official capacity, I would write back and ask that everything should be sent by proper post and on paper, just so things don't get lost. and then you need to decide carefully just what sort of contact you want to have. You could even ask her to clarify what sort of contact she is looking to have with you.

And look at the guidance for LAs on Elective Home Education, so you are very clear what sorts of things she is allowed to ask about and what sorts of evidence you are required to provide if she is looking for evidence that your child is receiving an education suitable to their age, aptitude, ability and any SEN they have. You might be happy for your child to meet her and show her educational things you've been doing. You might prefer to keep all discourse in writing, and provide her with an educational philosophy. You don't have to provide evidence of lesson planning or curriculum or completed workbooks or anything like that.

Hi there, I've been home educating in Southwark until my eldest daughter went to secondary this September. I've met up with Alison several times over the years, when my daughter was 5/6/7...can't remember precisely when we stopped meeting and I just sent a brief report instead.

Alison kept on being cool and chilled out as my daughter grew older; I think, as long as she reckons you're an interested and engaged parent, she's happy. We never went in for very much structured anything, and she was fine with that too.

PM me if you'd like any more details