Does anybody know about the u.k homeschooling laws?

Question

I am thinking of homeschooling my child as she is suffering stress and depression from school.I live in wales in the u.k and i was wondering if there is anybody out there who knows the laws on this and how i go about it.I will be very grateful for any information and advice.

Answer 1

Further to your other question here are a page of links and a Yahoo Group for home educators in Wales.

The EO Yahoo Group is also good for general stuff.

Answer 2

The Education Otherwise site gives legal information.  See:

http://www.education-otherwise.org/Legal...

also, Home Education UK's site:

http://www.home-education.org.uk/

and the Home Education Advisory Service:

http://www.heas.org.uk/

Firstly, ignore Ally.  You do not have to be rich to home educate.  Most HE families I know are far from it, myself included.  You don't say how old your daughter is, but I started home edding mine when she was 12 as she was getting stressed out at school too.  She is 13 now and a much more relaxed girl.

If you decide to withdraw her from school, your only legal requirements are to:

a) inform the school in writing.  You can do this on the day she leaves if you like, so you do not have to give a week's notice or anything.  You do NOT have to inform the Education Authority unless you wish to, although the school is legally obliged to.  Some LEA sites give misleading information

b) you have to provide an education suited to your daughter's age, aptitude and ability.

This last is rather vague, to say the least.  However, you are not required to follow the National Curriculum, enter her for GCSEs, A' levels etc, although again, you can if you wish.  There are alternatives to the traditional exams which can be much better.  You do not have to teach specific subjects, although English and Maths would be a good idea.  Also you do not have to have a set timetable or numbers of hours education.

I just sat with my daughter and we discussed what she would like to do.  Our "curriculum" has varied a lot as one does need time (several months in our case) to discover what a child or young person is happy with.

If you wish to take the GCSE route then remember that you do not have to sit them all at 16.  You can spread them out over as many or as few years as you wish.  Also home ed allows you to learn things that schools would not normally offer, eg my daughter loathes the usual sciences and is learning  astronomy instead, which she finds fascinating.  You do not need any prior knowledge of any particular subject, but it is helpful to learn with the child so that you can help if necessary.

Finally, ignore any negative comments about "socialisation".  Since we have been home edding, my daughter's social life has increased.

Very best of luck

Answer 3

http://www.leicester.gov.uk/index.asp?pg...

http://www.oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/Gen...

http://www.primaryhomeeducation.co.uk/

Answer 4

your child probably has depression from living in Wales. I'd suggest moving to England, OR send them to a boarding school (as you are contemplating home schooling I assume you have money)