"Education consultant" anyone?????

[becaroo]

Got a letter from our LEA and an "education consultant" is coming out to see us in a couple of weeks.....any idea what they are and what they do and what to expect from the visit.

They have asked to see samples of work but as we will only have been HE for 5 weeks when she comes, I can only really show her workbooks and artwork/models etc.

Thanks!

[sigh]

(not sigh at you, sigh at them)

"education consultant" will be some ex-teacher or ex-ofsted inspector subcontracted by the LA to inspect your provision and pronounce judgement on it. You are under no obligation whatever to accept the visit.

You are in a complete lottery. The "consultant" may be very supportive, or they may be a complete horror. They may offer you helpful advice, or they may be there with their ticky box checklist being Mrs/Mr Judgeypants.

In your position, I would either

1. write to the LA and say "thank you for offering a visit. We will be delighted to receive one once we are satisfied that such a visit will be of benefit to our family. Please let us know the relevant qualifications and experience of the consultant in home educating."

Or

2. "thank you for offering a visit. In accordance with current law relating to home education, and the 2007 EHE guidelines, we prefer not to receive a visit at this time. Please keep all future contact with us in writing. We will be delighted to provide information about the education we are providing once we have fully settled into home education, as is recommended under paragraph 3.11 of the guidelines ahed.pbworks.com/f/7373-dcsf-elective-home-education.pdf" Ball back in their court. They may well want to get an impression of the kind of HE you do and, once you've got well established - 3 months? 6 months? Then it is reasonable for them to ask for evidence that you are providing an education, and at that stage, look through teh guidelines and think about the kind of evidence you want to provide.

3. go for it. Have the visit.

Why the hard line advice? The discredited Badman report, plus current DCSF and ministerial attempts to pass illiberal, disproportionate and discriminatory legislation. Time for us all to show the State agents that we know exactly what legal powers they have and don't have, and they need to LEARN TO USE THEIR EXISTING POWERS rather than demanding more, or pretending that they have more powers than they do to interfere in perfectly well functioning family lives.

Hi

Thanks for the reply....I have decided to go for option 3

HOWEVER...I will have no compunction whatsoever in throwing her the hell out of my house if I feel she is not helpful/supportive...my dh knows I will so is now dreading the visit as he thinks I will throw a wobbly at some point!!!

Will let you know how I get on x