but at least i actually did it. has to be done by friday.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/conRespond.cfm1 Based on your experience of local authorities implementing this duty since it was introduced in 2007, does the guidance make clear the actions which local authorities are expected to take to help them comply with the duty?
Yes
No
Not Sure
No Response
Answer/Comments
i think that it poorly differentiates on risk as it has an inherent presumption that if at school there is a suitable education, whilst if at home, they are missing out. the recently published list of schools where less than 30% achieve what seems to be a very minimal goal at GCSE shows that schooling is not necessarily OK.
however, if the schools are judged that this level of attainment is suitable to the age ability and aptitude of its pupil range, no higher goal should be set for home-educators.
i don’t believe that the more than 1 let alone 2 standard deviations from mean in the school system are probably having a suitable education. i know many teachers who say previous children who would have been at special schools and had better provision for SEN are now mixed with children and can be v disrupted, as can those that are gifted and talented, often through boredom. this suggests to me a personalised HE route is best for my children. i do not believe an inspector or LA is a better judge of my childs abilities than myself.
i think that parents and children opting for their right to maintain their responsibility for education, rather than devolve this to the LA, should have the responsibility of judging it and their provision. interference from EWO and sometimes SS and others on an every child matters without grounds for concern borders on harrassment.
i do, however, have no objection to informing in the broadest outline the LA of my philosphy and educational goals in writing.
2 Does the guidance make clear the role that implementation of this duty has in the wider programme of work led by local authorities to improve outcomes for children and young people, including promoting their safety and well-being?
Yes
No
Not Sure
No Response
Answer/Comments
i think this guidance is very confusing. it confuses education with wellbeing, and then assumes that school attendence is reassuring, whereas home education is not. The cast majority of children at risk are schooled. i am not saying that there is no risk in a home educated child, but i have seen no data to suggest the risk is higher.
3 Does the guidance accurately describe the range of circumstances that put children’s safety at risk and puts them at risk of not receiving a suitable education?
Yes
No
Not Sure
No Response
Answer/Comments
the issue of educational status at school or home is again being confused with child safety. I resent being considered high risk in this aspect, and would like to see a full open risk assessment rather than presumption. there are other more clear indicators of child risk – failure to attend for vaccination/ dentist and also increased hospital attendance that are far more indicative.
home education per se is not a risk
4 Does the guidance show effectively what steps local authorities should take when children are living in difficult circumstances that put them at more risk of not receiving a suitable education?
Answer/Comments
i am actually very amazed to find that home education is in a category of difficult circumstances! i think this automatically prejudices against home education and home educating families with no reasonable evidence behind it.
It is again confusing the choice of home education with child welfare
5 What are the key challenges local authorities could face to implementing these guidelines effectively?
Answer/Comments
parents have a right to home educate and provide an education suitable to the childs age ability and aptitudes and the community in which it will live. the previous consultation in light touch changes to monitoring HE concurred that HE investigations should only be saught if there is no evidence of education provision, and this can be given in written form, and no legal right to home visitation. this guidance appears to be in direct contrast to this. this will cause confusion as it seems that HE does not need a home visit to monitor the educational provision, but instead to monitor child welfare. this seems to be openly discrimnatory based on education choices.
6 Does the guidance make clear the duties and powers that local authorities have in relation to home educated children when parents are not providing them with a suitable education?
Yes
No
Not Sure
No Response
Answer/Comments
it complicates the issue. section 347 of the education act 1996 is already available to be used. this appears to be a prejudicial against home education guidance to try and increase LA powers through an alternative route.
7 Does the guidance contain all the ‘signposts’ to other relevant guidance; sources of support and advice for local authorities that will enable them to implement this duty effectively?
Yes
No
Not Sure
No Response
Answer/Comments
it appears to contradict the guidelines on elective home education even whilst pointing to them
8 Beyond the publication of the guidance, what would be the most effective means of communicating the importance of implementing the new duty, and the processes that will help its implementation, to professionals working with children?
Answer/Comments
I would hope this guidance is significantly revised prior to publication
9 Have you any details of good practice that would be useful to include in the final version of the ‘guidance’?
Yes
No
No Response
Answer/Comments
ongoing dialogue with LA’s in response to the guidelines on elective home education may well in the future lead to details of good practice, and CHEF and the cambridgeshire LA are working towards a jointly amicable working relationship. these new guidelines will cause significant muddying of waters that have only recently become clear.
10 Did you find the draft guidance clear, unambiguous and easy to follow?
Yes
No
Not Sure
No Response
Answer/Comments
it is tortuous and contradictory.
11 a) We have developed standard data definitions at Appendix 1 of the guidance. These were developed in consultation with several local authorities. Do you agree with these definitions?
Agree
Disagree
Not sure
No Response
Answer/Comments
if it is to include home education as its remit, this should have been developed with relevant stakeholders – ie Home educators and the various home educating groups that seek to campaign and inform
11 b) If not, what amendments would you suggest and why?
Answer/Comments
i think it should start again, using the stakeholder groups from the beginning