Flexi-schooling

[Dalooah]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on approaching schools with regards to a flexible-schooling arrangement? We are considering which schools to put down for our daughters reception place, and there are no open days taking place this year so would have to make a mkre formal enquiry with regards to the schools support of lack of flexi-schooling.

Does anyone know if it's common and what schools' views would be towards it?

I've posted in the home-Ed board too but hoping for more traffic/different opinions.

Is it even a thing? Don't teacher have enough to do without prepping and checking learning materials assigned to parents for parts of the school week?

If you’re on FB, the flexi schooling families group on there is probably a good place to start. I’m not a member any more but I assume it’s still active.
Flexi schooling is not common, it is entirely at the head’s discretion, & schools don’t tend to like it... but some schools do agree, it really does depend. While your DC is under CSA it is easier to agree.

We had a child at our primary school who was part time and another who was part-time as he was also attending a behavioural unit.
We requested 1 half day off a week and school turned it down . They said it would be socially isolating for our child..

Thanks for your replies. Will check out the FB groups and see if there's anyone in my area doing it.

Bit strange to have different rules for different children 🤷‍♀️

The issue for schools is that they are responsible for all your child’s results and have to sign off on all your education and safeguarding arrangements. They are also not allowed to do it for a child with an EHCP.
You need to be clear on what extra benefits it brings to your child and why it will not be detrimental to the school. Also remember if it is agreed, they will expect to be able to visit and see how your part of the arrangement works.
There are schools that specialise in it. Seek out small rural primary schools with one or two classes and you may find they are more open to it.

The only children I know who were flexi-schooled were four cousins from a very tight-knit extended family of artists. The children had a day a week together (I think it was maximum two or maybe three at a time because of their ages) at home through KS2 when they learnt Ancient Greek and various art techniques.

This was a 3 teacher rural primary school and one of the mums also taught art in the school as PPA cover.

All the children went on to study art at college. Not sure how much they use their Ancient Greek now.

I don't know of any school round here that would now be open to that arrangement.
The children all really struggled with maths and as a PP said, the school remains responsible for their progress in all subjects.

What are your reasons? Unless they are are very specific the schools are likely to be against it because it wouldn’t be in the be child’s best interest (unless specific reason) and it’s tricky for the school too. They’d have everyone wanting Friday off if it was allowed!

Please join the facebook group. There are schools which are open to it. And then there are schools where parents have been able to pursuade the headteacher to agree to it. It is at headteacher's discretion. But it doesn't have to be always very big reasons. I know if Stroud Green Primary School in finsbury park, which has flexischooling mentioned on their website and they are completely open to kids taking the fridays off. I read a post by a parent mentioning that they took their child out to forest school and other outdoor activities. All the best OP.

Stroud Green School parent here. I don't do flexi schooling myself but it's a very popular option for lots of other parents in the school, Friday is the only day that can be taken off. As far as I know it's only an option for KS1 children.

There's quite a detailed form to be filled in when applying for flexischooling, the school needs to be sure the 'day off' will be filled with something educational.

I had a very fortunate arrangement with our primary about 15 years ago ... I would say, "We are doing x on Thursday"... and it was worthwhile music and science stuff mostly ... and they would say fine. One DS's attendance dropped below 50% in Y4 and they said we were pushing our luck. It worked very well for us but I think it must be a bit of a nightmare for schools to administer if they are keeping tabs properly, which I don't think anyone did with us ...

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