the department is not actively working with families until their new policy is operational.
Jo
Hi Jo
What does this mean in practice? Do you mean that someone is being paid for being "the home education department" but isn't actually doing anything? Who is "the department" and can home educators still get in touch to ask them about stuff? Are they sending out any information to new families? Are they using the time constructively? Are they accountable to anyone for how they spend their time?
In fact, did they actually hire anyone as a result of those job ads?
If they haven't got anyone in post it might explain why they were OK to extend the consultation?
What about this safeguarding that they are so obsessed with? Do they believe in a get-out-of-jail-free card for something bad happening on their watch if it happens while they are in limbo and have ditched one EHE policy but not formally adopted a replacement yet?
If they spent £200K last year on monitoring, and then this year they've done nothing for a third of a year (Sept to Dec inc) then this consultation has saved them a shedload of money?
edyourself.org/articles/guidelines.php3.7 First contact between local authorities and home educators often occurs when parents decide to home educate and approach the school (at which the child is regis tered) and/ or the authority to seek guidance about withdrawing their child from school. It is important that this initial contact is constructive and positive, and local authorities should provide written information (see paragraph 2.5) and direct parents to a range of useful contacts such as those described in paragraph 5.1.
4.5 The provision of clear information has an important role to play in the promotion of positive relationships. Local authorities should provide written information and website links for prospective and existing electively home educating parents that are clear and accurate and which set out the legal position, and roles and responsibilities, in an unambiguous way. We also recommend that contact details for home education support organisations should be provided. Home education organisations’ contact details may be found through an internet search.
4.6 As noted in paragraph 3.3 we recommend that local authorities should, if the parents wish, provide them with a named contact within the authority who is familiar with elective home education policy and practice and has an understanding of a range of educational philosophies.
are happy about the consultation's being extended.
5.2 Local authorities do not receive funding to support home educating families, and the level and type of support will therefore vary between one local authority and another. However, we recommend that all local authorities should adopt a consistent, reasonable and flexible approach in this respect, particularly where there are minimal resource implications. As a minimum, local authorities should provide written information (which is also available through the internet) on elective home education that is clear and accurate and which sets out the legal position (see paragraphs 4.5 – 4.6). Some local authorities may be able to offer additional support to home educating parents, but this will vary depending on their resources.
Examples of additional support include:
provision of a reading or lending library with resources for use with the home educated children
free, or discounted, admission into community programmes (including local authority owned community and sports facilities)
access to resource centres (including local school resources where feasible)
National Curriculum materials and curricula offered by other educational institutions
information about educational visits and work experience
providing assistance with identifying exam centres willing to accept external candidates."
