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Original poster

Deregistered...HT wants a meeting?

19 replies

TangoMunch · 24/04/2023 16:06

So after just over a year of my daughter's (9) school treating her chronic illness as something that can be disciplined away with "better habits" I took the plunge and deregistered her on Friday to home educate her.

I notified the HT in both email and letter and today I got an email back from her requesting a meeting because apparently it's an "important part of the deregistration process", is this correct?

Whilst I have many things that I would like to say to her I actually don't want to see her at all as the last time I tried to speak with her she just spent the whole time staring and smirking at me.

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HonorHiding · 24/04/2023 17:05

Maybe offer to be a available for a phone call? That way you can have your say without being made to feel uncomfortable.

Theunamedcat · 24/04/2023 17:08

No as far as I'm aware you don't have to attend a meeting maybe go to "not fine in school" site and ask there

Theunamedcat · 24/04/2023 17:08

HonorHiding · 24/04/2023 17:05

Maybe offer to be a available for a phone call? That way you can have your say without being made to feel uncomfortable.

Always have everything in writing

MithrilCostsMore · 24/04/2023 17:08

Nope. No need for a meeting.

WithOneLook · 24/04/2023 17:15

In answer to your question no you don't HAVE to attend (or speak to the head) as part of the deregistration process. It is fairly commonplace to be offered though and privately I'd recommend you think carefully about your decision either way. Depending on what your relationship with the school already is (presumably poor?) And what existing 'concerns' they have already and may or may not have collected evidence for refusal to attend could be added to a safeguarding referral which isn't necessarily something to be feared, but maybe aware of. If you do go, I'd recommend taking someone with you, and ideally someone a bit more removed from the situation (and someone the school don't know!), and ask for minutes of the meeting to be taken and sent to you shortly after the meeting (or take them yourself and share them). That way you have a second set of ears/evidence of what did/didn't happen.

Jebatronic · 24/04/2023 17:37

This meeting is not for your daughter’s benefit. It will leave you open to misinterpretation. When things are like this, do everything in writing.

Doobydoo · 24/04/2023 17:44

Agree with pp. Everything in writing. All the best as well😀

saltwater1985 · 24/04/2023 17:46

Have a look on FB at home ed groups, there is some amazing advice available.

And no, you aren't required to meet or discuss your decision

thinkningaboutit · 24/04/2023 17:47

There's a woman on tik tok who does lots of informative east to understand videos on home schooling and deregistering. She suggests keeping everything in writing and that no follow up meetings are needed.

vm.tiktok.com/ZGJmXyWmX/

Strictly1 · 24/04/2023 17:51

When completing the paperwork, HTs have to have offered you a meeting. It is part of the process.

You do not have to attend in my LA but it must be offered.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/04/2023 17:57

The LA will require the school to list the procedure they have followed to respond to a notification before they give permission for the school to remove your DD from the register.

It's up to you whether you attend, but it is important for you to be offered it, as without it, there's a good chance that they will have to keep contacting you for unauthorised absence until such point as the LA gets around to completing their investigations (which can be months in some authorities).

Some people like using it rather like an exit interview - they have an opportunity to actually be listened to/say their piece and if another member of staff has been acting inappropriately, the school has then got the ability to actually do something about it. Others don't.

lljkk · 24/04/2023 17:59

I wonder if you should think of it as a box ticking exercise.

They boxtick that they have no safeguarding concerns.

It's a last chance for you to give them feedback about how their school-ed offer didn't meet your child's needs.

I try to see most things as opportunities not problems, mind.

Soapboxqueen · 24/04/2023 18:17

You do not need to attend any meetings at all.

There is no benefit to you or your child in attending any meetings.

Once you have informed the school in writing, that's your job done. Any procedures they have in place are their own business. There is no requirement for you to play along.

There's excellent information on the education otherwise website and they also offer advice and support.

CatOnTheChair · 24/04/2023 18:39

I sat down with the head when we moved away.
It was fine (but we weren't unhappy with the school).
Couple of boxes he filled in about where we were off to, if we'd secured places etc.
Tied off loose end for school was my impression.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 24/04/2023 18:46

Didn’t the LEA step in after 15 days continously absence?

spanieleyes · 24/04/2023 19:51

It's a box we have to tick on our deregistration paperwork. A meeting has to be offered, but we couldn't care less if you attend or not, it's down to you. In fact, I don't think I have ever had a parent who did attend! But at least I can say I offered😁

Saracen · 24/04/2023 23:36

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/04/2023 17:57

The LA will require the school to list the procedure they have followed to respond to a notification before they give permission for the school to remove your DD from the register.

It's up to you whether you attend, but it is important for you to be offered it, as without it, there's a good chance that they will have to keep contacting you for unauthorised absence until such point as the LA gets around to completing their investigations (which can be months in some authorities).

Some people like using it rather like an exit interview - they have an opportunity to actually be listened to/say their piece and if another member of staff has been acting inappropriately, the school has then got the ability to actually do something about it. Others don't.

No, that isn't how it works, though I don't doubt that some incompetent LA staff tell schools that it is! Whether LAs give parents and schools accurate information about home education law is a postcode lottery. Many behave as if they are entitled to concoct policies which contravene the law.

In England and Wales, children who are attending a school which is not a special school are to be deregistered as soon as the parent informs the school in writing that the child is being home educated. No permission is required, nor is there any waiting period, and therefore unauthorised absences don't enter into it. See the relevant Education Act for each country.

There is a different procedure in Scotland, where a parent contacts the LA (not the school) in the first instance to request consent to withdraw the child for home education.

By the way, OP, Mumsnet has a Home Ed board.

newwnamme · 24/04/2023 23:44

As above, not required. You have informed them of your decision. It's not a case of your 'asking permission'. Of course, the school will lose the funding they received on your child's behalf, so they are keen to talk you round if possible. This is perhaps why they present it as 'part of the process'. It may well be part of their process, but the legal process says otherwise. Remind them of this if you need to. It doesn't sound like anything productive would come of their proposed meeting, better put that time to use towards your new home educating venture.

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