Home Education UK

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The Latest News in Home Education

Lib dems Propose new policy on Home Education

Draft consultation from the DfE

DfE consultation link

Following Lord Soley's attempt to pass a private members bill the Department of Education has proposed some changes to their guidence on home education which is currently out for consultation, so, particularly, if you are an experienced home educator, I encourage you to look at the link (above) and comment.

The draft contains some, frankly, odd, even bizzarre, ideas. However, even when these are ironed out, the guidence remains draconion in nature. It will present nearly all home educators with unprecedented problems. The guidence remains unencombered with evidence. One of the most obnoxious and discriminatory measures, indeed it's most fundamental one, is to propose that all home educators, like registered paedofiles should be registered.

The bill in the House of Lords:

HL11 2017

Two Labour Lords: Baroness Morris of Yardley on behalf of Lord Soley have proposed a private members bill restricting the ancient rights of parents to educate without state interference.

This bill has had it's second reading in the HoL. The Government have said they do not intend to add compulsory registration to the legislation, which suggests the bill will not get Government support. Instead the bill seems to have created a moral panic leading the government to take some form of action (see above)

However, a face book group, set up specifically to oppose the Bill have produced a

Briefing Paper

which addresses many of the issues the Bill raises.

In the spring the Liberal Democrats will discuss a new education policy document. Section 9 relates to home education:

They intend to legislate for home educators to follow the National Curriculum and have twice yearly inspections, a demand which exceed those of either Lord Soley or Badman.

I strongly urge everyone who opposes them to write to the Lib Dems using their contact page.

Please remain polite, stick to the point while expressing yourself firmly.

I attended a meeting at the House of Lords on 13th March 2018 regarding this new policy.

I have a report of the meeting here. (requires further editing)

It seems they are reconsidering their policy, please read the report of my meeting. They also have some interesting points regarding Lord Soley's bill.

Home Education - a human right

"The respect of parent's freedom to educate their children according to their vision of what education should be has been part of international human rights standards since their very emergence."

(The Special Rapporteur to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 8th April 1999)

UK law is clear, parents are responsible for the education of their offspring regardless of whether they are in school or out of it. In law the right to an education is an obligatory right, it may neither be denied to, nor refused by, a child.

Thus since children may not refuse education and there is no academic consensus on what constitutes an effective education, we believe that the state must be flexible in defining what a 'suitable' education is.

Even though the law expresses the right to home educate as a parental right, it is my belief that, in the same way that young people have the right to decide upon medical procedures, a specific education should not be imposed upon them. This is not only right in principle but in practice too since intrinsically motivated learning will most readily "achieve that which it sets out to achieve". Ultimately, education cannot take place against a person's wishes.

Helping you decide if home education is for you. Learn about innovative, and alternative approaches to educating your children and develop creative, positive family dynamics. Insightful and informative.

New Green Party Policy

The above policy is good as far as it goes, but one should notice that it does not rule out the possibility of registration and monitoring, indeed it says nothing one way or another.

Paperbacks & Kindles

Many EHP books are available as Kindles, at low prices. There are app's for all brands of smart phone. Build your own library of 'read anywhere' EHP titles.

Get a free A4 poster

Many parents remain unaware that home education is legal, or if they do, where to find support.

This poster could be put up anywhere parents and children might benefit, You could ask to put this up on your Library for example. Down load the poster today, print it, post it somewhere and help a child learn free.