The purpose of our family blog is the recording and logging of our home education adventures and activities as well as to create a learning portfolio and a central place to collate all the various resources we have used or are using.
However, we understand when parents are considering or have already made the decision to not educate your child/ren at a state maintained institution; certain questions need answering along the way.
Although we are home educating our 7 children and have always done this (apart from a 7 month trial during 2005). We do not consider ourselves "experts", so I will briefly outline our rights as parents and include links to other more informed and experienced blog's or sites.
The Law Regarding Education In The United Kingdom.
- If your child/ren have never attended a state maintained school than you are under NO legal obligation to inform anyone of your decision to educate your child/ren otherwise.
- If your child/ren are currently attending a state school then to begin home education, it is necessary to send a letter to the Head Teacher of the school/s explaining they have decided to Educate Otherwise than at school and will provide their educational needs. This is known as a "Letter of Deregistration" After this letter has been received (good idea to send it recorded - signature required ;) Deregistration is complete.
Depending on the policies of the Local Authority, once this process is complete, you are likely to receive a letter, regarding your decision to educate otherwise than at school and questions regard your "provisions and resources" for them.
However official looking and sounding the letter from a "department" within the local government offices, in reality, probably an office doing three other jobs within a larger department. However official they sound, always remember.........
- You have NO legal obligation to have a "meeting" with the Local Authority to discuss your provision for your children.
- You have NO legal obligation to send any copies of work or a schedule or timetable or a curriculum or anything else.
Deschooling
It is common practice if your children have been removed from state school to have a settling in period - often known as "deschooling" this is a period where parent and child re-form their bonds and learn to relax and enjoy each other again without all the stress of "targets" and the like. Its also a time to both find out what your child/ren are really "into" learn about their learning styles and find the resources to facilitate their learning. An average time for this period can be from 6 - 12 months depending on the child and their experiences at school.
Educational Philosophy
Also common is the offering of an "educational philosophy" as an answer to the local authorities questions.
Further Links for even MORE information on the legal aspect of Home Education or resources to help build up your educational philosophy etc......
Good Luck xxx
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| Home Education Advisory Service |
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| Education Otherwise (or EO) |
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| Education Everywhere |