please help us! Ed Balls wants to treat a minority group as guilty until proven innocent...

[ommmward]

Please would you write to your MP and ask them to sign Early Day Motion 1785

Mr Ed Balls wants to give LA officials the power to enter private homes without any reason to think anything is amiss and to force children to submit to an interview on their own with LA staff. These are powers that even the police and social services don't have!!!!

He wants to do it because he is concerned that not having your child in an institutional setting (that's school now, but he could easily extend these plans to those who don't use nurseries or child minders) might be a cover for abuse. His planned legislation is a sledgehammer to crack a nut- he doesn't have evidence that Home Ed is being used as a cover for abuse and it will cost a great deal of our tax money to have LA staff coming to do welfare checks - but he hasn't even done an impact assessment!

So please write to your MP, tell them the planned EHE legislation is disproportionate, uncosted, and has no evidentiary basis, and please would they sign the EDM 1785.

If you don't HE you probably think this has nothing to do with you. But those with children not in child care are next in line for such heavy-handed state intrusion. We will support you when that time comes. Will you take 5 minures writing an email to support us HEers now?

Juule, benefits for children cease at 16 unless they are in full time education. Hence the college. It's easier to prove.

anastasia, I'm not sure which age the girls go missing, it varies, though around puberty is pretty common. You would think wouldn't you that the LEA has some way of keeping track of these children (again, not only girls) but I would deal with between 4-10 a year, out of 100 or so students I taught, who had interrupted, intermittent or minimal schooling. Bear in mind also that by 16 many girls were already married (if, possibly, not legally in the UK) so I would not have seen them at all. I suspect the LEA didn't label them as a high risk group. Many of them were being 'Home Educated' in the legal sense, in that they had the necessary paperwork, some of them went to private schools, though why they came out of them illiterate and innumerate is anyone's guess. Many were sent 'home' then the LEA was not notified when they returned to the UK. It's actually pretty easy to fall off the radar.

No.

I have no issue with any authority wishing to interview my child to check on her well being. I have nothing to hide, why would this be a problem?

anastasia - as a former HEdder - not ALL HE families have checks. Only the ones the LEA know about. So it is dishonest to claim otherwise.

Franks - personally I think that is the most ignorant and lazy opinion to put forth.
It isn't about hiding things, it's about human rights.
It's because of people who claim 'they have nothing to hide' that our civil liberties are being eroded away right under our noses.

We were known to our LEA and had one check during our 2 years of HE. The woman from our borough was very pro-HE and basically told me that her checks were really for the families whose children were not being educated.
She walked into our home and saw that we cared and took time with our children. Maybe what she really saw was a white middle class family with a library of books and decided we were ok.
This is one problem with some LEAs - they are so biased.

Anyway, she told me that some families she had to deal with were not educating their kids, and from some of the things I have seen as a HEdder, I could believe that, especially with some of the older kids who were school refusers. It was almost too late for them.

I don't have a problem with registration, but I do think that the LEA will have NO CLUE what they are taking on. They are misinformed about different learning styles, they are prejudiced against certain types of people, they can be bullies.
I really don't think they will stand a chance in hell implementing some of these recommendations.

Oliverboliverbutt, I said that it happens the same way that social services get involved with a family. If there are no concerns there would be no reason for social services to get involved. Same with the LA. But when there are concerns they have the power to intervene already. So some may be unknown, but if anyone raises concerns the LA do check. Interestingly all the cases we have been hearing about are not families who have choosen to HE from the start but those who have run into problems later on and who are already known to the authorities. I'm SURE that if a HE from the start child had been involved in care procedings it would have made front page news.

Slug; almost all of those situations show that the problems wont be solved by making annual visits compulsory. Most of the children you've described are already seen intermittently by schools, or were out of the country and didn't notify the school - why would they notify the LA that they had returned in that situation? Perhaps the answer is that re-entry to the country needs to trigger a letter to the LA.

HE is a legitimate educational choice and should be treated as an equal with other educational choices.
The child has a right to education and the child is central.

Someone need the safeguard that the DC is getting an education. The main purpose of school Ofsted is not to inform the parent of the quality if teaching (that is necessary, but secondary) the main purpose is to make sure that the individual DC is being properly educated.

With HE there is no need to inform the parent as they know but it is necessary for someone to check that the parents are allowing a satisfactory education.
(it isn't judging their parenting skills-just the quality of education).
I can't see a problem-HEers are very heated about the 'damage' of schools and how they do a much better job and know best what their DC needs, and yet as soon as they are asked to show it the shutters come down!

I have never been able to see why it is shrouded in secrecy. Ofsted inspectors can talk to any DC, without a teacher being around, and they give honest answers.Parents are able to have their say and write very honest answers (speaking as a parent who generally writes a small essay!)
The inspector then writes a letter to the DCs in addition to the report-and so they should-the DC is the one that is receiving the education.
HE should be open-they shouldn't have anything to hide. The DC should be asked their opinion and the DC should have a letter.
Most parents do a wonderful job, but those who don't should be weeded out.
I don't think HEers can have it both ways-either it is a legitimate educational choice, equal to schools and is treated as such- or it isn't an equal choice.

Ed Balls wants to treat a minority group as guilty until proven innocent...

He merely wants to check the quality of education!!

Piscesmoon, If that is the situation with OFSTED then why can't children who don't meet government standards sue their LA/school?

Because if they individually were receiving an education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude there wouldn't be any children leaving school without functional standards of literacy and numeracy would there?

I think they do sue anastasia. However before you start suing you have to have a strong case, and possibly the DCs were not capable of meeting the government standards. I had a friend who taught illiterate adults on a one to one, she had 2 pupils and didn't have much success with either. Both had had a lot of resources all through school and failed and they were still failing on a one to one basis as an adult when they actively wanted to learn. My DS2 is dyslexic-he did manage to reach the government standards for English,(by the skin of his teeth!) most of the time. However he couldn't cope with French-he couldn't spell in French-he could have had hundreds of pounds spent on it-he could have been beaten if he failed or even been threatened with being shot if he failed!!! He would still have failed-he simply couldn't do it!
HE inspections are not about attainment and jumping through the 'right' hoop at the 'right' age-they are about helping the DC have the right skills in an appropriate way. If a DC is spending the entire day on 'rubbish'computer games-that isn't an appropriate way.

I think you'll find that VERY few cases have ever been sucessful. And the reason for that is because the court will turn around and say that the Law says that the it is the responsibility of the PARENT to ensure that their child receives an education suitable to their age ability and aptitude, not the schools, not the LAs and not central governments. Didn't we speak about the fourfold foundation on another thread? Google Lord Adonis if you want more info on that.

So if the child is failing in school it is the PARENTS responsibility to support or move their child. The LA has only the responsibility to provide an education for those who want to use their services. It rests with the parents to make decisions about the suitability for their own child.

Also, what is the risk of the LA official forcing children that are home educated but not meeting age related targets to attend school. Only to find that after all the disruption to the family they don't meet targets there either. Do you think they'll apologise and tell them to make the decision after all. As if, when schools are failing its because parents aren't engaging with their child's education, not signing home-school agreements etc...

I think there are very few cases because it is almost impossible to prove.
Anyway HE inspection isn't about attainment-it is about appropriate opportunities. HEers are all confident that home is the right place for their DC and not school so I can't see why they have the fear. Just be open. Secrecy hides the inadequate-why would anyone want to protect the inadequate? Poor teachers should be weeded out and poor HEers should be weeded out. Every DC deserves the best. It is a basic human right to have an education-wanting to do it isn't enough or fair to the DC.

The point is that when your child goes to school they come into contact with lots of other people and it is harder to hide if something is wrong.
If a child is home educated then it is possible to keep them away from the world outside and isolate them.
I would think that a body to moniter every child's educational and welfare standards would be welcomed myself. They are not accusing you of anything so where does guilty until proven innocent come into it?

I iamgine the HE families will be offered lots of support before the children are whisked off to school

Can you say that confidently then piscesmoon? That it is opportunity the LA officials will be monitoring. Because given the bad practice they already engage in I don't feel that confident about it. We also discussed in detail on another thread the 4th recommendation - for the government to look at the definition of a 'suitable education', what do you think they'll come up with?

It would be like the poor teacher-they can't just be sacked! They get all sorts of help. The parent who was very poor at HE would be offered help and suggestions. I would have thought that any HEers would have been pleased to have suggestions and discussion. I think anyone who has all the answers , always knows best and is perfect is dangerous. As a teacher I am full of self doubts and always keen to debate and learn.

Well, the national curriculum standards are pretty low imo, they won't expect more than that I am sure

'I iamgine the HE families will be offered lots of support before the children are whisked off to school '

Where do you suppose the money for this support will come from mrsruffalo, when it has been stated in the house of lords that there will be no impact assessment for this because it wont cost the LAs anymore than they already spend on monitoring HE. They don't even get funded separately for Elective Home Education - it comes from other parts of their budgets which is one reason different LAs have different departments dealing with home educators in their area.

piscesmoon has just said that her son struggled to meet certain national curriculum standards mrsruffalo. So will some home ed children, especially as many have SEN (a much higher proportion than in schools). And many families home educate to get away from the national curriculum. Just as private schools don't have to follow it.

I have said on another thread anastasia that I think the whole thing is a mess! No, I don't feel confident that it would work the way that I see it. However HE will be regulated in the end-I am sure of it. Therefore it is sensible for HEers to engage in it from the start and be the driving force-get the system you want. Hostility won't get anywhere-in a war people have to end up talking in the end! It is much better to talk at the beginning. Concede that registration and regulation will come and concentrate on the actual terms of it. Authority has the upper hand-they can just make it illegal.

pisces - my meeting with the HE official in my borough was asking ME for websites and info she could pass onto other HEdders.

I doubt very much that LEA's are going to offer very much support or advice TBH.
And where are these resources going to come from?
What will teh gov't do when 50,000+ HE kids are taking them up on their offer of support & free resources all at once?

I think it is extremely badly thought out oliver-as are most government policies in schools!!!! However it is only a matter of time and so HEers need to work together to find a workable solution. If you just dig your toes in and fight you will lose in the end IMO.

But Pisces, THIS review comes as a package. We can't be involved from the start because they knew what they wanted out of it. The same things LAs have been asking for in the previous consultations; that with genuine consultations rather than a 'independent' review they were told NO to again and again.

Perhaps if this wasn't the case we could talk about it. Perhaps we wouldn't feel so negative about it if one of the 'expert panel' had been a home educator or someone who has done research into home education.

Please understand that while we would be willing to ENGAGE with the government we are not prepared to give them answers to incredibly closed questions just so they can say that they have consulted with us.

Go on, sign the petition. Write to your MP telling them that you AGREE with registration BUT that you still cannot accept THIS report with its over the top proposals and doubts of its independence. That you feel they should scrap it and start over with a panel of people like Alan Thomas, Paula Rothmeral, some LA officials and some home ed families. And that then they might come up with something workable.

I think they should start again. However you ask any teacher what they think of government intervention and you need to have several hours to spare! Pre schools used to be playgroups, CMs were generally people who had their own DCs and looked after a few more-they have left in droves since they had to take on EYFS. Private schools are having to justify their charitable status. Only 7% of DCs are privately educated and so the % of DCs being HE must be minute, and yet this group think they are the last bastion and can stand out and be free to do whatever they like! Regulation will come-I could bet money on it!

Do you think its a con-incidence we're the smallest group? (and that is a totally genuine conversational question, not a debating one)

I think that its very scary that they've chosen to move into an area of parental responsibility. I don't think its a co-incidence that we are the smallest and I don't think it will stop with us. Some people might think that's being paranoid - but do you know, I think I would inspect very well so it isn't about not having anything to hide. I have FE teaching experience, my parent's work in education, my DD is bright enough and confident enough to speak to strangers, even if it happens at 5.

But I worry that the next step will be the EYFS, after all childminders are inspected. Isn't is only fair that all children get the same standard of pre-school education? The same things we're hearing people say about us.

Why not forget about us being the smallest group and remember that we're all one of the biggest groups - we are parents, all of us, no matter what choices we are making. And almost every single one of us wants to make the best choices for our children, and we are that ones best placed to know what those choices are. Why not all say that we WILL keep the freedom to make those choices ourselves, and the government should remember that they are OUR elected representives and not dictators. Instead of taking power and responsibilty away from parents give it back to them - I bet with REAL parental choice schools would turn around much faster and the parents of the school would be able to support the teachers much more effectively.

whoops about con-incidence instead of co-incidence. But perhaps just as true...