Local authority home education officers will often ask home educating parents to meet with them. Home educating parents can be confused about whether or not they should. Quite often, this confusion arises from the parent’s exposure to news about the conduct of some local authority officers in some regions. This article presents some facts which […]
Samples of work requests and demands
The Local Authority (LA) can ask you for copies of a child’s work. What it cannot do is demand such copies particularly under threat of a notice under the Education Act 1996 s437 (a notice to satisfy the LA) or School Attendance Order (SAO). Some LAs will ask for copies of work where they have […]
Do home educating families have a viable means of redress when their local authority conducts itself unreasonably during its enquiries?
Much has been said in the House of Lords during the passage of the schools Bill, in respect of remedies available to home educating families if their local authority does not act reasonably. This brief analysis examines the facts behind that contention. A parent can complain to the local authority. Freedom of information requests made […]
England: why parents choose home education
The Department for Education (DfE) and Baroness Barran, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System, who is leading the Schools Bill in the House of Lords, are forming policy and guidance for EHE. Education Otherwise believes that any policy should be based on accurate data. To that end, a survey was taken of […]
Wales: why parents choose home education
Elective Home Education (EHE) is of equal legal status to school education, it is a reasonable and legal choice to make and it is not a safeguarding risk. Notwithstanding, the Education Minister Jeremy Miles, has made clear his view that the best place for every child is in school. Many parents do not agree with […]
What, How, Why, Peter Inson
‘What, How + Why: A manual of Better English’ describes itself as ‘the go-to guide for anyone who wants to improve their English’ and for many people it will do precisely what it says on the packet. The approachable and informal style Peter Inson uses will, without doubt, help those who find formal texts impenetrable […]
Education Otherwise response to Baroness Barran
Education Otherwise published a briefing paper on the Schools Bill which has been shared with MPs and peers. Baroness Barran has responded to that briefing paper to those individuals, but not to Education Otherwise. Education Otherwise is not discourteous and on that basis, has written directly to Baroness Barran to reply. Equally, we feel that […]
Schools Bill For School Families
For parents of children in schools, the Schools Bill represents a frightening ‘power grab’ by the DfE. Even former education ministers in the House of Lords have raised concerns over that. Under the Bill: 1. All schools must become academies, ending the dual system under which church schools have always operated. 2. New academies can […]
They only attack what is different, home education under threat!
The reality is that all our children begin their life as being home educated. This means that Local Authorities (LA) and Governments, are confident that parents and guardians are able to educate their child in their own style without the need to register. During these formative years, from birth to five, it is universally recognised […]
The Schools Bill: Briefing paper
The Schools’ Bill has been introduced and had its first reading in the House of Lords. Home educating families and organisations that have an interest in the development of children are horrified by its content. Home educating families have been repeatedly assured that this Bill would go no further than mandatory registration of home educated […]
