I sit here really angry when I write this post. Recently I have noticed an increase in LA's negating their duties and dumping kids and their families unwittingly into the word of home education when they are ill equip or even wanting too. The LA has a duty to provide an education to kids that are too ill or are being bullied to the point of suffering with mental health problems because of it.
I have heard many stories over the past few months of parents being told to either send your child to school or home educate and no other options being given to these families who end up in despair because they know their child cannot cope at school and they are not equip to provide education at home financially or mentally. I can see the desperation in their posts and stories of their child already having attempted suicide on a number of occasions or they can see their child's mental heath deteriorating at a rapid rate of knots and all they are faced with are LA's and schools negating their duty to care for these vulnerable children and their families by attempting to force them to home educate, hoping the families will just sign on the dotted line to take financial responsibility and give the LA a get out clause. relieving them of their duties.
The LA have a duty to provide an education and that does include home tutoring. I actually found out about elective home education because a family member had been excluded from school and was receiving home tutoring to get her through her exams. It was then that I found out about this other option of Elective Home Education, I confused the two at first until I understood the implications which as I now realise are huge for some of these vulnerable struggling families.
However Home Tutoring should not be confused with Elective Home Education, although it does seem that these LA's and Schools are confusing the two and only seem to be offering parents with children that cannot attend school the two options of Home Education or send your child to school, I have noticed that more and more families are opting to home educate because they have no other options for them or they believe that they have no other options when they do, home tutoring provided and paid for by the LA.
Families need to know that it is not just a simple get your child to school or you will be fined and imprisoned or alternatively home educate, you do have options and to start you can read the Government Guidelines for children that have an illness and cannot attend school here which I have extracted some of that information below.
If your child can’t go to school
If your child can’t attend because of illness or injury, your school and local council will provide support to make sure their education doesn’t suffer.The school’s role
The school should:- let the local council know if your child is likely to be away from school for more than 15 school days
- give the local council information about your child’s needs, capabilities and the programme of work
- help them reintegrate at school when they return
- make sure they’re kept informed about school events and clubs
- encourage them to stay in contact with other pupils, eg through visits or videos
The local council’s role
If your child’s going to be away for a long time, the local council will make sure they get as normal an education as possible. This could include arranging:- home teaching
- a hospital school or teaching service
- a combination of home and hospital teaching
The local council should also:
- have a senior officer in charge of the arrangements and a written policy explaining how they’ll meet their responsibilities
- make sure your child isn’t without access to education for more than 15 school days
- arrange education from the start of your child’s absence if it’s clear they’re going to be away from school for long and recurring periods
If you are having problems engaging with your school or Local Authority who are blatantly ignoring your needs and trying to off-roll you into home education then please contact one of the below services who will help and give you advice on how to deal with the minefield in front of you to get the education your child deserves.
Contact For Families With Disabled Children are a charity that can help find you local support and also provide a handy guide for when your child cannot attend school which you will find here
Red Balloon Learner Centre supports young people who self-exclude or are isolated at school because of bullying or other trauma you can find their website here
Fresh Start In Education welcome any student regardless of their abilities, attitude or behaviour. We work to engage with them, enable them, and re-engage them in their education. You can find their website here
Child Law Advice Offer advice on children out of school and LA legal duties and the processes that should be followed you can find that webpage here
Not Fine In School Is a guide for families who are experiencing a difficult situation and your child is not fine in school, you can find their website here
Government Guidance on Education for Children with Health Needs Who Cannot attend School here
Government Guidance on Education for Children with Health Needs Who Cannot attend School here
As a closing statement for this post I just wanted to add I see a lot of people entering home education because they feel they have no other choice, but there are choices.
Exams are expensive and so it tutoring, having to give up your employment is not a choice that should be made lightly, your child deserves the best education they can have and off-rolling is not always in the best interest of the child, if there are alternatives then I implore you to explore those options first before you decide to home educate. Attempts at Off rolling is a disgusting practice that every family should challenge.
For a more in-depth look and some figures on off rolling see here the government education inspection Blog.
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