There are now three films commissioned by EO which you can circulate widely to MPs, friends, family and anybody else who might support us.

School is not compulsory explains what HE is and how it works

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeBb2eSvOnM

Informal Learning: an interview with Dr. Alan Thomas who explains his research and how autonomous education works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kakCOKJ9AUE&feature=channel

A View from the Lords: Lord Lucas gives his perspective on HE, how the government is seeking to intrude, and how vital it is for HE families to contact their MPs.  He says that home educators should be admired and valued:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGNxZ4fcvhE&feature=channel

A fourth video, due to be released very shortly, provides information on the Badman report.

These videos are getting very high viewing figures and it is a good way of getting our message out there – so please send them on.

http://www.heyc.org.uk and their first press release is here:
http://heyc.org.uk/news
The young people travelled to DCSF as intended, and the resulting
video can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOkaQmZdjks

Although Mr Badman’s review claims that home educated children are twice as likely to be known to social services, and the press wrongly interpreting that as twice as likely to be at risk – the statistics are just plain dodgy.

Statistics obtained under Freedom of Information show that home educated children are half as likely to be abused.

"Home educated children half as likely to be abused and yet twice as likely to be pursued by social services. Government plan to interrogate home educated children for signs of abuse."

Action for Home Education (AHEd) has appealed to the Better Regulation Executive to halt the public consultation "Home Education – Registration and Monitoring Proposals" for England saying it is an unnecessary and disproportionate public consultation.

http://ahed.pbworks.com/PressReleaseBetterRegulationExecutiveJuly2009

http://spreadsheets.gooAbuse in Elective Home Education (EHE) gle.com/pub?key=rbrk5-GEdrUdcmfi670Mihg&gid=2

Despite Badman’s claims that home educated children are more likely to be abused – LA authority figures show the opposite.

http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200907130.asp

http://www.ukhome-educators.co.uk/Survey/childsurvey0609.htm

Here are the results of a recent survey that show what home educated children feel about the Badman’s recommendations. Funnily enough most of them don’t want the be interviewed alone by a stranger.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/28/home-schooling-losing-ground-all-over-europe/