LA visit this Thursday. What to expect?

[Fillibere]

I've already agreed to this and now the visit is in a couple of days and could really do with some advice. Just nerves I think, but if I make a mess of this our provision might be deemed insufficient.
We've home educated for years and this will be our first visit.

The LA visitor said she wants to see the children's written work and where they are 'at' in maths and english.
They are, I believe, ahead in some areas and we do have enough work and lots of practical and science projects to show and loads of resources. I still feel so nervous at somebody deciding about our educational provision.

Ds is 10 and dd is 7. Ds has said he'll talk about his work at the meeting and is happy to do this. Dd has refused, but I don't really like the idea of her being present at the meeting and answering questions at her young age anyway, though she will meet the LA visitor to say 'hello'. I mention this because this is what I told the LA visitor when he called to confirm the appointment on Monday, and he was pushy about having dd at the meeting. Saying things like 'well maybe I could ask what she's been reading and what it is she likes about home education'.

Any advice and reassurance from those who have been through visits would be appreciated.

Have just had my first LA visit (see other thread on LA visit and wobbles) and all went brilliantly. I didn't want to talk about certain things with my kids present, but they played out in the garden for the most part.
Perhaps I was very lucky, but it was such an encouraging, informal visit. Where abouts are you? Maybe you can get in touch with other HEors in your area, to see how their experiences of the local LA have been?

In fat, do check out the thread, as advice from MNers on it was great!

Yes, I have read your thread and others, thank you. I was quite upset reading the threads about the informal style chats (how nice that would be), I am expecting something different, unfortunately.

I have been in touch with one home educator who has met the LA visitor. She said it was very formal and she had to show lots of different types of written work. She said it was like an interview in style. She thought they were a little bit hostile.

I have asked on forums for people in my area, but people are unwilling to come forward, I've found, and I can't blame them for that. Most seem to be unknown to the LA.

Oh gosh..
Don't forget, you're not obliged to accept the visit? And it is up to you whether your children are present or not. I do understand how nerve racking it is though, but try to remember why you are doing what you do, and that the LAs have less powers currently, than some of them put across.
I am sure somebody will be along shortly to explain the law far better than me, but in the meantime, do read
ahed.pbworks.com/f/7373-dcsf-elective-home-education.pdf
They sound like very specific requests regarding written work; given that we aren't obliged to follow the curriculum, it seems absurd.

Fillibere, you could phone up and cancel the visit (although, in a hostile LA, that may attract negative attention). Otherwise, can you arrange for the meeting to take place (without DC) at his office? Or have someone else in another room with the DC? Or have them out of the house, ready to return if you think it is a good thing for them to meet her?

In the link given by catbus, s2.7, page 6, says:

Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home
education on a routine basis.

In other words, it is not her business to evaluate where they are at in any respect. Her sole responsibility is to decide if it appears that you are failing to provide a s7 education. If there is no such appearance, she can go home and forget about you.

You are under no obligation to have a visit (s3.6 of the DCSF document) and you could cancel, saying in writing that you felt the visitor was pushy on the phone so you would rather send a report. You could also say that the sort of questioning the visitor indicated is incompatible with your educational philosophy - your DC's work belongs to them and they do not wish to share it.

Thank you for the link.

I will go through with the visit, I just want to get it over with now. I'ts just so important that I am nervous with only two days to go.

One of the people on the forums did say that although officially you are allowed to send in written report and info they don't like this (in my area at least - which I'd rather not name) as due to 'safeguarding' they like to at least see the children are present, if they're not allowed to do this other agencies are threatened with being involved.

Cross posted with SDeuchars, sorry.

Yes I think it would be seen as not cooperating if I were to cancel the visit.

The home educator who has experience of a home visit from my LA did offer to give me advice on what 'they're looking for and how to get through the meeting. I've since lost her email address somehow, but I shouldn't need such advice anyway.

I think I will, after introducing the LA visitor to the dc, will send them out and have them on hand if I think the atmosphere and situation is positive. Though Ds is very confident and wants to chat, though I think I will not have even him present for the whole of the meeting.

I think there should be a national list of LAs who are 'difficult' and are negative towards HE parents/carers v.those who supportive.
This way, we would know what to expect, especially for those who have not had a visit.

I think the negative and supportive ones reflect the attitude of the person they are visiting. Anyone is going to be negative met with hostility and secretiveness. Get the DCs to bake a nice cake-smile a lot-get in first with an enthusiastic account of the best things about it. I would be doing something practical with the DCs at the time and get the inspector to get their hands dirty and join in!

It isn't about that. It's about LAs knowing where their boundaries lie, how they interpet the law regarding monitoring, visits, etc.
They differ widely across the country, and if I allow someone to come into my home, then I expect them to know beforehand what they are and aren't allowed to say or do and what inquiries they may or may not make in respect of how I home educate my grandson.

My SIL has a wonderful LEA man, but most of them don't know that! How can you be positive about someone who tells you to go away-through the letter box? He has to form an opinion through that encounter-and it isn't good! How can it be good to set an example to DCs it is OK to be rude through a letter box-and rude to a perfectly polite man?

"I think the negative and supportive ones reflect the attitude of the person they are visiting."
I don't think it is as simplistic as that, both of the people I spoke to who had experience of my LA seemed perfectly reasonable and not at all hostile.
I would treat the LA visitor as any other guest to my home, and be welcoming and friendly.

I not sure that contriving a baking session during a meeting when the LA visitor has beforehand specifically asked to see written work from the core subjects, would go down well.

Are you a home educator too, piscesmoon?

No-I'm not. I go by my SIL who has had visits from different people for over 10 yrs. She is polite and friendly. The poor inspector then tells her tales of the unpleasantness and rudeness of people who don't know him and have no idea what he is looking for. I can tell you that a cake goes down very well! If you are confident and happy tell him! Don't let them take the initiative-get in first. This is why getting him doing something practical is a good idea.

I think that by doing as you say, Fillibere, and being yourself is absolutely the right thing to do.
You never know, the visiting person might be completely fine. If at any point the visit does not look to you/makes you feel uncomfortable, make that clear. It's your home and they are a guest.
The LA man today commented on how a lot of them should be made more aware of how these impending visits make people feel, and how to be more sensitive to this.
Perhaps you should go with the flow of the visit and see how comfortable you feel discussing certain things around your kids, as and when it happens. Remember, it shouldn't technically be like an interview and you can ask them plenty of things too, like what can they offer you etc??
I really hope it goes well, and will be thinking of you

Exactly catbus-get in first and interview them! You are in the strong position and they are the guest. If I were to HE I would do it because I truly believed it was the best option for my DCs and I would start by saying so and why. HEers wax lyrical on here and yet seem frightened of officialdom. Get in early and tell them the best.
Inspectors are not robots-they are human beings. It isn't rocket science to work out that if you smile, offer cups of tea and cake and tell them how your DC is blossoming they will form a much better impression than someone who is on the defensive and immediately quoting their 'rights'.
(If you have a DC who has had a rough time and doesn't want to talk explain that they need to be left alone)

I will leave you to it-I was just thrilled because catbus started a similar thread and I gave similar advice and it worked!
Good luck!

Marjorie, someone is trying to compile a national list. Here's the link.

www.theartofsurvival.co.uk/homeeducation

We are very lucky with our LA although I suspect the autonomous home educators are not known as he has said everyone they know about is structured to some extent. But he has shown himself interested in learning about other styles of home ed and is trying to provide some opportunities - there have been a couple of meet-ups with lunch provided; there is a creative writing workshop coming up; and we also get a newsletter every 2-3 months.

Visits are fairly informal and he is always interested in the different resources we use.

Thanks, Tinuviel

We did home made pizzas during a visit once, she was well impressed. The kiddos were pretty independant doing it & also wrote the recipe whilst they were here. She even added into the report.
Beforehand the kids designed their own pizzas & chose their own ingredients.
Don't underestimate the power of baking! There's loads that you can get out of it.

Where are you based?

It's also a way of boycotting the kids getting quizzed.

I'm glad someone else sees the power of baking! It makes sense to me. It is your house, they are the guest so you conduct your interview your way. You get the DCs busy-if possible you get the inspector involved-down on their knees at DC level. If you are growing things drag him off down the garden to dig up radishes etc. They can't stay remote that way.