thinking of home schooling

[mumofteens13]

morning all, new here and need advice. My 13 year old has addition needs that i feel are not fully met at school, she also is in second year high school and from day 1 there shes been bullied with the school doing nothing, she has now been threatened to be beat up and shes scared. i want to look at home schooling but local authority refusing to help get me started. so im wondering if anyone here is in the uk an home schools high school age kids and have any advice

IMO you need to be able to answer these questions.

Are you able to supervise her every day? Do you have the correct level of experience/education to support her? Can you afford the £1000+ to enter her into public exams? What is your plan for socialisation?

Following out of interest

We have a 13 year old who was bullied and took them out of school. We moved them to an online school which has been wonderful for them. They follow the national curriculum but do all their work online. Would that be a possibility?

depends on cost but that would be ideal, where i live if she was naughty then they would get her a tutor in the local hub but because shes a good kid they dont want to help me.

Schools dislike home education, they won’t help you get started. But you do not need their assistance or permission. If you want to home educate, then simply email the school saying “Please remove my child from the register effective immediately as we have taken the decision to home educate her, starting today.” And that’s it - she doesn’t have to go any more and you don’t have to deal with the school anymore.

After that, the school have to inform the local council (as it reduces the school funding slightly) and the local council will probably phone you to check that you are actually educating her. They may ask for written info and want to meet you etc. They are not actually entitled to meet you or to be sent anything, and people have different opinions about how much to engage with the council.

Remember you can just do it for a few months, or a year or two, you don’t have to commit forever.

Anyway for more info join facebook groups like home education uk and ask these questions there.

Good luck.

yes im here all day i dont work as im her full time carer, she will not be expected to do exams due to her level of education, shes already been seen by a dr who dont think she will do anything in exams, we are trying to get her statemented but again school dont want to help. during lockdowns i home schooled both kids and with minimal help or work from school but that was primary and was easy to find work sheets to print etc.

We had a similar situation with ds. He was badly bullied at school and hated it. No learning difficulties though. We removed him from school and enrolled in online school. He did ok at GCSE. I work from home so was always about if he needed me.

However if I had my time again I wouldn't do it. I
would remove him from school, spend the rest of the academic year paying for private counseling, building resilience etc and then start at a different school in September. DS found the transition from home ed to college very difficult.

wow didnt realise it was that easy thank u, i am popping to the school today as they havent bothered getting back to me on the bullying issue so i will be speaking to them about it today. thank u so much for your help

If you're in England or Wales, gave a look at Education Otherwise

www.educationotherwise.org/

Facebook is a good place to look for local HE groups

I had similar thoughts for my ds. But I haven't taken him out. However the school have been really helpful, setting up a safe space for him at lunchtime and from September they have put him in charge of running a lunchtime club for 1st years to boost his confidence and give him something to do at lunchtime. I wonder would the school work with you or are they not bothered?
It's really tough when they are unhappy at school. My ds will be getting some counselling over the summer and hopefully building his confidence. While taking them out of school will help immediately, the transition to college/work will still need to happen and if their issues aren't dealt with I think it might be very difficult.

One bad school doesn't mean all schools will be like that.
Have you considered just moving schools?

You say you are 'trying to get her statemented'. Have you applied for an EHCNA yourself or have you been trying to persuade the school? I got lots of helpful advice from the SEN board when applying for my 17yo.

I would second the advice of TeenPlusCat. Start the process of applying for an EHCP straight away - you don't need the backing of her school to do that. It will probably however, be an easier process if she is still on the school roll. Use the IPSEA website for advice on how to apply; I would suggest booking a call from one of their advisors. In an ideal world, what sort of school do you think would best meet her needs?

I agree with applying for an EHCNA. You can do this yourself you don’t need school’s support. If the LA refuse to assess or refuse to issue you should appeal, the majority of appeals are upheld. And rather than EHE looking at EOTAS.

In the meantime if DD cannot attend school full time e.g. because of her MH the LA should provide alternative education. This isn’t just available to those with behavioural difficulties. If the LA refuse you can force them to provide it.

Posted too soon. I wouldn’t deregister and EHE because parents find it easier to get support when on the school’s roll even if not attending. Crudely, you are someone’s ‘problem’ whereas it’s too easy for DD’s needs to be swept under the carpet if you EHE. The LA will then say you are making suitable alternative arrangements and they are relieved of their duties.

I’m struggling to understand why a child who is unlikely to take exams hasn’t already got a ECHP. Most DC would be assessed in primary. This seems very late. You do need to apply urgently. Is a SEND school a possibility if you get the plan?

If she is not going to take GCSE exams at the end of Y11 then it sounds like she may benefit from doing something more appropriate for her than taking courses for qualifications she won't get. You haven't given any information here about her SEN, but there are lots of alternatives. There are KS4 BTECs for example and many other worthwhile creative and practical qualifications to work towards that do not involve sitting in an exam hall for hours and hours, week after week in the summer of Y11.

Also a friend who's son has HFA had him at home for almost a year because of school refusal. The local authority provided him with a weekly home visit from a tutor until he was ready to start at a new school. He then went back part-time and worked up to full-time over about a year.

My kids have been home educated since years 7 and 5 because of unmet SEN. Best thing ever, they didn't thrive at school. Eldest is now sitting GCSEs as a private candidate and has place at a selective college in September for A levels. Youngest is able to focus on things that she is talented at, she is a county cricketer, and enjoys and is going to do GCSEs in due course.

Of course children who don't go to school socialise!

If i had my time again I would have home edd-ed from the outset.

Don't be put off by people who have no experience of home education. People are blinkered that school is the best way.

It would be better if you applied directly to the council for an EHC Needs Assessment. If you deregister her they have no responsibility for her. If she is still on roll at the school, then she is a problem for them, so they need to fix it.

My DD hasn't attended school since Easter. She's still on roll and we're waiting for her EHCP to go through. Her attendance is abysmal.