the home education visitor
17 April 2008 by colouritgreen
OK, this is a controversial subject.. The subject on whether to allow visits from the local authority (LA) divides the the home ed community.
When we first started to educate at home, we did everything correct and open - we had to really, my son was at school, and we had to deregister officially. Our decision came at the time we should have been choosing secondary schools, so we also had to confirm we wanted none of them!. Some months later we were contacted, by letter, by the home ed visitor, requesting a visit.
It filled me with angst. Well of course, like most starting out on this road, I had joined all the forums I could find, and searched for information. Very good idea too, how else was I to find out my rights. But what I did find, is the repetitive message that allowing a visit is a big mistake, that you should always refuse, and that they will make your life hell!!
The thing is - there are some injustices.. there are some LAs who don’t understand the law, there are some good home educators getting hassle they don’t deserve. I have a lot of trouble believing it’s the norm. The stories are often said, and repeated by those with absolutely no experience of any visits. Many parents opt to home ed from the beginning, and in doing so their children are not ‘in the system’, and as they are not known, they are not visited.
I debated what to do.
Reasons to accept a visit : I had nothing to hide, I am educating my child and doing a grand job. If I was missing something important, it would be good to know. If I don’t allow a visit I will have to prepare a report, which is time consuming. The more we are open about HE, the more acceptable it will become. HE is under attack, the more ’satisfactory’ visits the smaller the argument to remove our right to educate our own children. Refusing a visit might give a signal that I was perhaps not making a good job of it.
reasons to refuse: I don’t have to, it’s a waste of my time, by law the LA can only get a school attendance order if they have reason to believe my child is not receiving an education, and at the moment there was no reason to think he was not receiving that education, why give them a reason to reevaluate? It can be better to put things in writing than speak in person, and finally.. what if those stories of evil visitors ‘inspecting your home’ and ignoring all evidence and well.. being evil! are true?
I know that my LA is reasonable well informed.. they have a page on their website all about HE and even get the facts right, quoting the law correctly! Frankly if they did not manage this.. I might have made a different decision in the end. But there is a large HE community in the area.. this is not new to them.
I decided to ask about other people’s experience on local and nationwide forums. I got a lot of advice not to allow the visit.. but when I pushed for reasons.. experiences.. the answers thinned out. When I pushed further I got angry responses.. why did I want to know about their personal experiences.. was I a spy for the LA? Blimey - I only wanted them to back up their advice with actual happenings. I even got harangued for not showing solidarity!!
Yes really! - see apparently the visits are often harder on those that educate without structure, worksheets and ‘evidence’. I can see it would be. I’m a bit startled there is a lack of ‘evidence’ - I mean I understand the lack of structure.. we are not always structured, that’s the beauty of home ed, we can abandon everything for a great experience - like seeing one of the navy ships come in, or lambs being born. I understand the lack of worksheets.. they work for us, repetition is a necessary part for us, but it’s not for everyone. But ‘evidence’ - there is always evidence!! photos for a start - our trip to the Eden project, or of the caterpillar experiment, or my son proudly holding a tray of biscuits. The things he has made. The talking.. all the talking!! over something that excites him, the books and DVDs the litter that is home ed all over our house! but mostly the obvious changes in the child. Anyhow, if you don’t have these things to show the visitor.. then they can potentially jump to the conclusion that not much is happening. I was told, that even though I do home ed differently to them, I should refuse visits, show a bit of solidarity and make it easier on everyone else. That really rattled me! They weren’t showing me any solidarity..
Quietly, I got a few replies from people who had allowed the visits.. how nice the visitor was and it all went well… but they usually emailed me privately.. particularly after seeing me shouted down…
It occurred to me then, that there are lots of people just educating their kids. They are not that vocal on forums, they are not out to change the whole world.. just provide a good education for their kids. Ordinary, everyday home educating parents. And for this reason, I am writing this particular post .. I’m a normal everyday home educating parent and did not find the home ed visit a problem.
In the end I decided I should assume that all that was happening was the LA were doing what they are obliged by law to do - make sure I was providing an education. I guess, annoying though it is that they take up my time, I prefer that they are looking out for kids and making sure they receive the education they deserve. and If that’s what I think, then I should go along with the system. As I was providing the education , it should all be fine. And it was. I provided a copy of my educational philosophy, which sets out my aims and goals,. We chatted. My son chatted. And the LA man wrote a lovely report each time.
I don’t know if I shall always allow the visits.. I know I don’t have to , but I don’t see any reason not to.
When I home ed some years back with my son, the first time round, I allowed a visit from the LA and she was nice and supportive very supportive. However I had a few problem with lets say the LA being creative with the truth where I live now so a home visit would be something I would be inclined to say no to….without a witness!
However I have feeling that my LA may take a wide berth of me particularly as I have shown up their ‘errors’ in front of my MSP and currently have my solicitor chasing their tails for my sons records. Certainly their last letter had changed it’s tone from me being all bad to them trying to distance themselves from me!
Well you know the old saying, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones…my LA threw stones. I chucked back b great boulders, within the law and correctiveness!
MLA: I think it never hurts to make it clear to the LA that you know the law and your rights. Some LAs are a bit naughty and imply certain things that are not true, whereas others are more informed. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. I personally avoid being confrontational - save that for when I really need it!!!
I don’t know the ins and outs of your situation, but still in your shoes would probably allow the visit. With a witness if you wanted. The first visit we had I made sure was on a day himself was working from home, so I could have that support if needed. But in fact our visitor is a lovely person, and sensible too.
Its a shame you are not having a good time with the LA this time round.. good that last time was a pleasant experience.
I guess what I really trying to say to other home edders is that beware of the LA until they are proven to be trustful.
hmmm - I think I disagree,, that’s part of the point of my post really… I think it can be a mistake to *expect* the worse.. better to expect everyone to do the right thing - sort of along the same lines as ‘you make your own luck’.
Be aware, be watchful, be informed, for sure. But no.. I would not advocate expecting the worst.
When I first started home education, about 9 or 10 years ago now, you loose track after the first few! I too heard all the horror stories. I read the forums and joined the groups etc. I soon found that although they were supposed to be unlike the school authorities, all inclusive and open, they were not.
Of course I would like to point out that this is my own experience, others obviously will vary.
I found that some of the forums would not even let me in because I had not attended any of the sessions that were held around here and as they didn’t know me they were suspicious. Others just refused entry from the start with no explanation. I also found that although they said they embraced different types of home education, that if you educated in a more formal way, they did not like you. This was a massive disappointment, as in the beginning I truly believed that as we all home educated we would stick together and I would find the support I felt I needed.
In the end I decided to just do my own thing, on my own. You’ve just got to believe in yourself.
I have, through the years, had wonderful inspectors. I have always found them to be more than positive about me home educating and have encouraged me to continue doing so. I have never once had any trouble or disagreement from anyone.
My eldest son is now over 16 and I am no longer teaching him at home, he goes onto college in September. (That was a different experience and another story!) My youngest has another two years with me and I look forward to the time we have left at home together before he too takes himself into the word.
Everyone’s experience is different, but, in this area, I have always had all the help and advice I have needed without anyone being intrusive or opinionated. I think if you have a good positive attitude then they do too.
Just my experience!
Thanks for the comment on the hat, and I agree, Spooky!!