Social services onto me about not having child in nursery! Advice needed

mrcow

lozzy88 wrote: »

I am 24 and for some reason I never went to nursery, and this resulted in me being painfully shy until I was about 12.

Have you never stopped to think that perhaps the reason that you never went to nursey was because you were painfully shy?

It doesn't suit everyone. Just because other people are fitting into boxes, you don't have to.

I teach in secondary school, and lots of the kids don't come out of their shells until they are around Year 9. It's normal. It takes time for many to grow into themsleves and develop a secure confidence in their own personalities. Nursery or not!

shirlgirl2004

Zziggi wrote: »

*If you are known to the Local Authority and you do not fill in the forms for a school place then a school place can be allocated to you and offered to you. I suppose this is for those parents who, for a variety of reasons, don't actively apply for a school place (EFL? literacy probs? learning difficulties? mental health issues?)

The important bit here is can and not will be allocated and offered a place. Certainly in the county I live that is not the norm and I am not aware of any county where that is the norm.

I recieved a letter inviting me to apply for a school place and I ignored it. I have heard nothing from the LEA since and that was years ago. I know lots of people who the LEA are unaware are home educating.

Lots of children do go to nursery and then do not go on to school and the LEA don't assign them a school because the default is that the parent is responsible for educating their child which is backed up by the law.

shirlgirl2004

poet123 wrote: »

You have to complete forms to choose a school, because you have just that; choice. If you have a child in school and choose to take them out you have to de register them because school is the default option.

I note you didn't argue that it is a fact that the overwhelming majority do attend school.;)

Yes only about 1% of children are home educated, however the OP has already veered from the norm by not sending the child to nursery. I don't know why anyone would assume that the OP is suddenly going to hand their child over to the state when it turns 5 given the OP has already shown the ability to make alternative choices.

nickyhutch

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

The important bit here is can and not will be allocated and offered a place. Certainly in the county I live that is not the norm and I am not aware of any county where that is the norm.

I recieved a letter inviting me to apply for a school place and I ignored it. I have heard nothing from the LEA since and that was years ago. I know lots of people who the LEA are unaware are home educating.

Lots of children do go to nursery and then do not go on to school and the LEA don't assign them a school because the default is that the parent is responsible for educating their child which is backed up by the law.

Do your LEA know that you're home educating? Ours visit (I'm aware you don't have to allow them access) to see the child is actually being educated and offer support.

shirlgirl2004

nickyhutch wrote: »

Do your LEA know that you're home educating? Ours visit (I'm aware you don't have to allow them access) to see the child is actually being educated and offer support.

No they have no idea we're home educating and probably half the people I know that home educate aren't known either. I think I can do without LEA support.

Zziggi

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

The important bit here is can and not will be allocated and offered a place. Certainly in the county I live that is not the norm and I am not aware of any county where that is the norm.

I recieved a letter inviting me to apply for a school place and I ignored it. I have heard nothing from the LEA since and that was years ago. I know lots of people who the LEA are unaware are home educating.

Lots of children do go to nursery and then do not go on to school and the LEA don't assign them a school because the default is that the parent is responsible for educating their child which is backed up by the law.

I think you were lucky not to be chased up by your LEA if you were already known to them. Also if it was a few years ago then maybe things have changed. I do know that my LEA are rather.... Hmm.. Not sure how to put it.... Rather "keen" to ensure state school attendance & keep it that way. They're known also as a LEA that chases & prosecutes parents for quite low level truanting & term time holidays.

In my county, if you are known to the LEA and you do not return the application form, you are sent 2 reminders. If no application is received after this then the allocations team allocate the child a school place at a school of their choosing and write to you to offer you that place. In practice this procedure is coupled with further enquiry into your circumstances as to why you have not responded to the application. If you state you have made private arrangements (ie. private school) then checks are made. If you state you intend to HE then the information is sent to the EWS who allocate your case to the EWO responsible for HErs. I realise what the law says about the legal right to HE but I'm telling you what happens in practice round here.

poet123

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Yes only about 1% of children are home educated, however the OP has already veered from the norm by not sending the child to nursery. I don't know why anyone would assume that the OP is suddenly going to hand their child over to the state when it turns 5 given the OP has already shown the ability to make alternative choices.

It is quite different choosing to keep a child at home when they are under five and so not necessarily needing academic input, than it is to keep an over five school age child at home.

nickyhutch

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

No they have no idea we're home educating and probably half the people I know that home educate aren't known either. I think I can do without LEA support.

That's a shame for you. Ours are very good Most parents who home ed do so with the best interests of their children in mind and do a great job, so we're supportive.

Our systems pick up children not in school eventually e.g. if a school aged child goes to A&E or emergency doctor, parents are asked which school they attend so that we (school health) can get notification of the attendance. We check all these notifications and marry them up with school health records (which your child has, even if not in school). If you've stated home ed and we have no record, we notify/check with the LA and hey presto, you're then know as a home eder.

shirlgirl2004

Zziggi wrote: »

I think you were lucky not to be chased up by your LEA if you were already known to them. Also if it was a few years ago then maybe things have changed. I do know that my LEA are rather.... Hmm.. Not sure how to put it.... Rather "keen" to ensure state school attendance & keep it that way. They're known also as a LEA that chases & prosecutes parents for quite low level truanting & term time holidays.

In my county, if you are known to the LEA and you do not return the application form, you are sent 2 reminders. If no application is received after this then the allocations team allocate the child a school place at a school of their choosing and write to you to offer you that place. In practice this procedure is coupled with further enquiry into your circumstances as to why you have not responded to the application. If you state you have made private arrangements (ie. private school) then checks are made. If you state you intend to HE then the information is sent to the EWS who allocate your case to the EWO responsible for HErs. I realise what the law says about the legal right to HE but I'm telling you what happens in practice round here.

May I ask which county this is? I am on several nationwide groups and no-one has mentioned this being an issue even Kent which are an horrendous council for bending (to breaking point!) the law to suit themselves have not been flagged up as having this as an issue. Having said that over recent years all the cuts have meant less manpower to spend time undertaking fruitless tasks.

shirlgirl2004

nickyhutch wrote: »

That's a shame for you. Ours are very good Most parents who home ed do so with the best interests of their children in mind and do a great job, so we're supportive.

Our systems pick up children not in school eventually e.g. if a school aged child goes to A&E or emergency doctor, parents are asked which school they attend so that we (school health) can get notification of the attendance. We check all these notifications and marry them up with school health records (which your child has, even if not in school). If you've stated home ed and we have no record, we notify/check with the LA and hey presto, you're then know as a home eder.

But people are so mobile now. You move out of county and become unknown, not that I've had that a problem at all. Fortunately us home edders are a healthy bunch so I haven't had the need for a Dr let alone emergency Dr.