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11th September 2010 About Home Education According to the current law in England, parents have a legal responsibility to ensure that their children receive an education suitable to their "age, aptitude and ability". This education does not need to be within a school environment. Many children in the UK are now educated at home (and outside of the home - the world is their classroom) by their parents. Home-Education (also known as homeschooling), is rising in popularity in England. The motivations for this rise are diverse and wide-ranging - A failing school system, bullying, special needs, and religious views, are just a few of the reasons that I have been given by families choosing to take up the legal option of home-educating their children. To dispel just a few myths surrounding home-education in England: 1. You don't have to be a teacher, or indeed hold any form of teaching qualification. What you do need is an unconditional love for your children, enthusiasm to help them succeed, and a willingness to learn alongside them and provide opportunities for their growth. 2. You don't have to follow the National Curriculum, or indeed a curriculum of any sort. There are various curriculums available to purchase should parents decide that to be the route they wish to follow, but in law (as it stand now - September 2010), freedom is given to parents and their children to learn what and how they wish to - in order to provide that "suitable education to suit age, aptitude and ability." 3. Socialisation isn't an issue. There are numerous groups around the country providing weekly, fortnightly, and monthly get-togethers and outings especially for home-educated families. Coupled with the fact that home-educated children are as welcome as any to join in with groups such as Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides, Woodcraft Folk, Dance Lessons, Drama groups, Football clubs, etc etc etc - and socialisation, or lack of, should never be a reason against Home-Education. Just don't get me started on the whole school being a false environment and limiting socialising opportunities thing... Many new home-educators in England are unsure as to their legal position when choosing to home-educate their children. Hopefully the information offered below will help to clarify the legal aspects and your responsibility as a parent. The responsibility of parents is clearly outlined in section 7 of the Education Act 1996 (Previously section 36 of the Education Act 1944). Compulsory education 7. Duty of parents to secure education of children of compulsory school age The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable - a. to his age, ability and aptitude, and b. to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. There are many ways to home-educate your child, and finding the right method for you and your family may take time. Some families are structured, with planned lessons and timetables, whilst others are autonomous or unschoolers, meaning they are guided by their children, or child-led. There are of course many families hovering in between these extremes. Some choose to follow a curriculum (be it bought or the National Curriculum provided by schools). That is the beauty of home-education. As home-educators, we can tailor-make an education to suit the individual needs of a child. We have choices. As parents, we know our child best. We know their boredom threshold, their likes and dislikes, their interests and times when their concentration levels are at their highest. We can work the day around this knowledge, creating a routine that offers the child the greatest opportunity to enjoy their learning experiences.
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