Genuine answers only info on homeschooling in the u.k?

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.Any rediculous answers will be reported.

Answer 1

Look here for all you need to know including the legal position in England and Wales   http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regi...   they summarise by saying Education is comulsory, school is not.  I wonder whether you might also be interested in finding out about forest schools - they are an attempt to almost have a half way house - schooling, but with consideration of the environment in every sense, at its heart.  I guess in someways perhaps more akin to schooling as it was when I was young in rural places like Herefordshire (my home) and Wales.  Even if you home school, you might find their ethos inspiring. http://www.forestschools.com/

You might also look through the home schooling questions, especially where children contribute.  It does seem that for every school pupil wanting to be homeschooled there is a homeschooler wanting to go to school.  Local to me there is a home school yahoo group - they also meet regularly so their students can socialise, run a round in a bigger space etc etc  see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/highwycomb...

When I first worked with some Home ed groups, there was a report that said on the whole the attainment of HomeEd students was better  (figures were something like 60% home ed attained a certain level and only 37% of state school educated -from my aging memory!)

Answer 2

If you want to be sure you stay within the law why not go to your local council or town hall and ask for advice on how to go about it.

I have seen on the news that some parents actually teach their own kids at home without going to school at all.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

its simple just let your childs school know in writing.They will do the rest in relation to the education department.The local education department  will eventually come out to you and check that you are teaching your child.Its simple and you have the right to educate your child at home .So you could start Monday!!

Their a site called education otherwise? but i am not sure .I have 4 home schooled children and its great .

Answer 4

Hi

I'm in north wales and home educate (we dont call it home school here).

I also run the UKs biggest and oldest Home education website.

for legal info look here:

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

this has all the links to all the info you will need on home education.

I also run Yahoo groups on home education.

best of luck

M FW

Answer 5

Education Otherwise has a page of legal bits (see below) but basically, you send your child's school a letter saying you're de-registering them (see EO site for examples), be sure that someone signs for it. The school then has the legal responsibility to tell your LA.

The LA will probably contact you, when depends how disorganised and busy they are, and they will give the impression that you have to accept a visit from them. You don't. They may say they need to see your child. They don't, and if she is stressed and depressed from school it's probably not in her best interests to be cross-examined by some LA bod. You can send them a written education philosophy instead (again e.g.s at the EO site) and they can huff and puff all they like but you're within your rights to tell them to go away.

Good luck!

p.s. internet searches using the term "Home Education" rather than "Home Schooling" will get you a lot more UK results.