Home Education
Home Education
Some parents decide to remove their children from school to home educate. This is a big decision and should be your choice - You should not be under pressure from school or LA to deregister. However, many families have found home educating helped them and they often say they wish they had done it sooner.
Some children return to school when/if they feel ready, while others thrive within a home educating environment and may go on to college or university later on.
Home education can involve the use of a variety of learning styles, approaches and tools – you can try out different things and see which works best for your child. The important thing to realise is that you do NOT have to replicate school at home – you can follow your child’s interests and incorporate day-to-day life in their learning. You can use workbooks, projects, online resources, visit museums and other venues that often offer learning activities.
It can be helpful to join local home education groups and find out about local schemes for home educated children or children with SEN if that is appropriate.
EO – Education Otherwise
Scotland – Schoolhouse
N Ireland - HEDNI
Home Education Resource list by Freddies Mummy UK
GOV.UK Guidance for Home Education
EOTAS
Home Education
Schools often refuse to provide work for a child to do at home, saying it will 'condone their absence' and 'make it easier for them to remain at home'. This shows a lack of understanding and empathy for mental health difficulties. Parity of esteem should mean that mental illness is supported in the same ways as physical illness.
A school's duty too educate a child does not stop when they are unwell and unable to attend. They still receive finding for that child and can use it to offer provision that fits their needs.
If a child is provided with work at home and is kept in touch with peers it will make a return easier and quicker because they will not be far behind in work and will not be as isolated. While your child is off, the school could help them keep in touch with classmates, for example by writing, through photos or class newsletters, over Skype, and so on
The local authority must provide alternative education for children aged five to 16 who are unable to attend for more than 15 school days. This should be either full time or as much as the child can manage.
It can be provided in a number of different ways, including: a home tutor, online learning, or a small unit for children with medical needs.
Before arranging alternative education, the local authority may refer to their policy saying they need a referral from your child's school or a letter from a consultant stating that your child is not well enough to attend school. Remember that any local policy is 'trumped' by legislation though, which confirms the duty upon LAs to provide the 'safety net' of alternative education for children who need it.
The teams coordinating alternative education have different names in different areas. Common names are 'home and hospital tuition', 'the inclusion team' or 'EOTAS' .
SUPPORT FOR PARENTS (FACEBOOK)
EOTAS (England) Upper Tribunal Ruling update
Online Learning
Online Learning
Although online schools vary, they have several factors in common. There is usually a timetable of lessons and children often use headsets and microphones plugged into their computers to hear and speak to the teacher.
They can also have on-screen text boxes to send messages to staff or fellow pupils. Class sizes are usually smaller than in mainstream schools.
Because teachers can immediately log off any children who are misbehaving, it is also claimed there are fewer distractions. This means pupils get more work done, making for a shorter school day, sometimes of no more than three or four hours.
Current Providers include:
THE COMPLETE EDUCATION SOLUTION
ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES
(some examples)
(offer a range of free online courses)