Category Archives: Home education

What to look for in a home ed home?

Home education

We are current searching for a new house, which has set me thinking – what makes a great home ed house?

Location? We want to be on a bus route that takes us to the places we want to go – friends and libraries and group, with a good local grocery shop. We also don’t want to walk as far as we do now to some wilder green space, and a handy playground would be a bonus.

On the outside we want a big enough garden for a trampoline, some space to run and do a bit of gardening too, with access fromt he outside for all the muddy bikes and things. An easy to use access from inside the house too, to encourage us all to get out there and enjoy the outdoors more.

We have been finding that many houses have only one medium sized or smallish reception room, but three bedrooms. As a family that work and play together I would much rather prefer that we spend time together downstairs than hiding upstairs in bedrooms! Bedrooms should be for sleeping, and having a little quiet or private time rather than playing or making. So more downstairs space than upstairs!

As for the living space – we want wall space for shelves and display – all those posters, maps and artwork that we produce. A place to watch TV or play with playmobil, lego or other toys. And space for two or three people to play on the computer/laptop at the same time. Would much prefer hard flooring – more fun for playing on, things stand up better and so much easier to keep clean, especially with paint. play dough etc.

Plus of course, table space for baking, making, playing, eating, chatting. We have seen a house with a lovely kitchen/diner. A big breakfast bar, as big as a table so that we can cook and make together, plus space for dining room table and chairs too.

EOS – Christmas issue

Featured, Headline, Home education, Magazines and blogs, ,

The latest issue of the home education magazine EOS is now out.

The latest big question is “how will they do their GCSEs?”

There is an article looking at an alternative vision for schools, unschooling and Shakespeare. Plus make a gingerbread house, story books to read together at Christmas and making Christmas memories.

Possibly my favourite article this issue is Paula Cleary’s joyful piece on the importance and joy of music.

How do you rate you Local Authority EHE department and staff?

Home education

Many home educators have problems when dealing with their Local Authority. These often stem from the prevalent pro-schooling culture, lack of understanding about why parents choose to home educate and how it differs so drastically from school, and widespread misinterpretation of the law. Experinces vary drastically from authority to authority and with different staff members.

The HED : The Home Education Database (http://www.theartofsurvival.co.uk/hed/) website allows home educators to

  • Find out about the EHE staff at your Local Authority and read reviews of them.
  • Submit information about, and rate, the staff in your area.
  • Find home education groups near you.

1st issue of EOS – Education Outside School

Home education, Magazines and blogs,

The first issue of the eagerly awaited home education magazine EOS is now out.

It’s available in an online format only, at www.educationoutsideschool.co.uk, free of charge. It is hoped that it will be a much needed resource for new and experienced HE families, but something which also makes an informative and valuable contribution to how HE is seen in the UK, and beyond – a step towards normalising home ed and give it a more positive image.

‘Unsatisfactory’ education

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Part of problem here is a wide cultural gap between the school culture and informal learning culture common in home educating families and communities.

Whilst LA officers went to school, taught in schools and predominantly have experience of group based state education – SATs, National Curriculum etc home eduction is NOT school.

It uses very different methods because it is one to one, highly personalised. It is conversation based and independent learning is the norm. Many (maybe most) people without experience of alternative education are unable to assess it, and often are unable to recognise it in progress.

Not only that but sometimes LA officers deem education unsatisfactory because they have an artificial set time for education in mind – and home ed happens every moment of a child’s day – as they play, talk and explore their world. Other times it is deemed unsatisfactory because a family chooses to submit a written report rather than accept visits which can be highly stressful and particularly damaging for children with special needs or who have had bad experiences in school.

Sending teachers and school inspectors to assess home education is like getting the Pope to assess a Muslim, Jewish or CofE’s families religious views and practices.

There are many different approaches to education – many of which are not used in state schools so experience of school based education is hardly a qualification to assess home education.

Well they would say that wouldn’t they

Home education, , ,

No surprises in DCSF’s report on the responses to the home education consultation. The report of the consultation largely dismisses the reponses of home educators to the consultation. Response after response is dismissed on the grounds that home educators would say that wouldn’t they.

What DCSF fail to grasp is the home educators and home educated children are the stakeholders and the experts here. We are the experts in education outside school, in the welfare of own children and the children in our community. We are the people who live this life and know how the proposed changes will impact on our children and community.

We are also people with an interest in education, often with a broad knowledge of different educational philosophies and practices.

The few areas where responses have been taken into consideration have just replaced one rock with another hard place. So rather than criminalise parents for not registering, or doing what they say at every turn LA will punish them and their children by forcing them into school. Hardly a better outcome for children removed from school because school cannot meet their educational and welfare needs, or because of bullying. Where is the child’s welfare in this?

Home educators will in turn say – well the DCSF would say that wouldn’t they. They wouldn’t want their actual stakeholders to get in the way of decisions they have already made. However articulate and logical an argument may be it is incredibly difficult to persuade somone with a widespread preconceived cultural idea – in this case that school = education that they don’t understand or know enough about something to pass judgement on it. In other words those with a pro-school prejudice are hardly independent when it comes to making decisions about a way of life that calls their own educational choices into question.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=conResults&external=no&consultationId=1643&menu=3

Diversity in Education is precious in a democracy … Open Letter

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Brighton and Hove Home Educators have drafted and open letter to The Guardian and The Times, intended for publication on January 11th 2010, which is the date of the second reading of the Children, Schools and Families Bill in the House of Commons.
Please read and sign the letter at http://bhhe.wordpress.com/diversity/.

Responsibility

Babycare, Cosleeping, Home education, Parenting

As the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Christmas sermon bemoaned children’s lack of childhood Philip Johnston in the telegraph asks why adults are treated like children?
But Mr Johnston – both are true, and are two sides of the same coin – a lack of individual independence and increasing dependence on the state.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/philipjohnston/6898604/Why-are-todays-adults-treated-like-children.html?state=target#postacomment&postingId=6915144

Children are not allowed to be children anymore – they are rushed into school and away from families. Learning to read and write and formal learning generally happens far too soon. But it isn’t a step towards independence – rather a step towards dependence on schools and being told what to do away from parents. A step towards accepting what others tell them about the world, rather than discovering it for yourself. Children aren’t allowed to play freely and develop in their own personal way – in much the same way that adults are continually bombarded with instructions and fears.
If more children were left to play and spent more time with their families many would end up more independent in the long run, but also more involved in their own family life. The problem for those who see themselves as responsible for us all it that then people are less susceptible to being told what to do and how to live their lives. Those in authority are then perpetually afraid that something will go wrong and they will be blamed.
Those of us who want to take responsibility for our own lives and our families are increasingly pressurised to do things the state way, usually regardless of any scientific evidence for or against any lifestyle choice.
There is a growing body of evidence that bedsharing is as safe as a baby sleeping in a cot given certain safety requirements – but fears of SIDs distorts the evidence and cosleeping is seen by many as unsafe and by some as abusive.
Those of us who take full responsiblity for our children’s education are also seen by some as irresponsible despite decades of evidence from the US that shows above average outcomes for home ecucated children. We wish to provide an education that is personalised for our children, and may use a variety of approaches outside the experience of those educated and working in schools. As a result we have endured a year of accusations of child abuse, mental illness and huge pressures to conform. We face an uncertain future, with legislation pending that will mean that parents are no longer responsible for their own children’s education and require an annual license to maintain responsibility for their own children.