UK Disability Resource of Disabled Needs

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1973

Channel 4 News Online reveals that the number of children being schooled at home has risen by more than 60 per cent in the past five years.

More than 80 per cent of education authorities reported hikes in the number of children being educated at home, according to the Freedom of Information (FoI) probe.

In one area the increase was as big as 800 per cent; with campaigners blaming bullying, special needs provision and too many school tests as reasons for the national hike.

But Channel 4 News online has also learned that some schools and parents are using home education as a method of avoiding truancy prosectuction and poor league table standings.

http://www.channel4.com/news/arti.../homeschooling+on+the+rise/846947

Speeds · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:06 am Post subject:

I looked in to Home Schooling but I know that I would not have the patient and the committment. Too easy for me to be distracted.
_________________
Karen, Dominic, Thomas, Zola and Belle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_hues/

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1973

We did Home Education until our son was 11 and it was great.

It's not about sitting at a desk all day and doing sums or set lessons but more about following the child's lead in what he/she wants to learn.

It was fun and mostly we went out and about and learned things in the outside world. It was so difficult for him to go out as he was scared of everything and very sound sensitive.

He decided where we went and we just encouraged a bit of learning along the way.

I don't regret it at all and he's a much better adjusted young man because of it. But it certainly isn't for everyone.

If the LEA had given us the school we wanted we would have sent him though as HE was not out of choice initially.

He is now at that school and is doing really well.

barbsy · Super Member Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 570

jons split placement between mainstream and special schooling is breaking down, its been extremely difficult in mainstream since sept when he started yr 5. i have been trying to speak to someone at ace for advice but cant get through, i found a site about home educating and they advised me to write a letter to the mainstream school saying i would be home educating him two days a week until a full time place was found in special school where he does three days now and would they take his name of their school register.

im sitting here waiting to go to a meeting with the senco at 2.30 before i collect jon from school. i have all the things i want to say in one hand and the letter about taking him out in the other.

this is such a major event, my heart is beating ten to the dozen today. i am 100 per cent sure i am doing the right thing except i dont how long it will be till the full time placement happens. i just feel so sad for jon having putting him through so much over the last couple of years between the two schools. im just praying this will be the start of happier times for him.

barbs

Speeds · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 2:07 pm Post subject:

Barb - I will be thinking of you.

Good luck

XXXX
_________________
Karen, Dominic, Thomas, Zola and Belle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_hues/

barbsy · Super Member Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 570

thankyou speeds. barbs

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1973

Sorry I'm late with this. You will already be in your meeting. I have my fingers crossed for you.

They cannot refuse to remove Jon's name from the school roll as it is a mainstream school. I'm glad you found some good advice and I hope the links about HE were useful too.

Let us know how it went when you get a chance. I will be on pins the rest of the day now wondering how it went. xx

Excalibur

This is where we are coming from: full-time inclusion for our son since the age of 11 months old in a Butlin's staff nursery (at £1.50p per day!!) and still going in mainstream comprehensive at nearly 14 years old: does it work? Sure does - well at least it works for us.
http://www.paperclip.org.uk/downs...clusion_in_mainstream_schools.htm

I kid you not...without my son I couldn't even programme the video recorder, and he makes a really nice cup of tea in the morning too....

Today he told me that he is worried because my (1990's) rock climbing boots are pink suede.... and only girls wear pink suede rock boots!
OK, I think I can live with that. Would he be so smart if he went to a special school? I doubt it... I really do.