Home Schooling
Out on the campaign trail, I came across Sue Bunch, who posts on this site, her husband and her charming children Eden and Jacob - who are home schooled. I had never talked at length to someone about home schooling, and was amazed to learn that you don’t need to register your kids with the LEA; you don’t need to follow the National Curriculum; and you don’t have to do SATs. This sounds both refreshing and worrying! Sue made an interesting point - she and her husband pay tax, which help fund our education system. But they get no financial assistance whatsoever to pay for school books and other education essentials. Another argument for vouchers?
matthew said on May 3rd, 2007 at 10:32 am:
bit off message aren’t you? Vouchers? Thought Dave wanted everyone to be educated at bog-standard comprehensives.
Sue said on May 3rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm:
Hi Ed, I just wanted to say how lovely it was to meet you yesterday, and again today at the polling station. Eden has been telling all of her friends about how she “hung out with Ed Vaizey”!!! You’re about 3 steps down from a pop star and actor in her mind!!!
I’ll be back to comment on the home ed. The vouchers thing is new to me, so I want to read up on it first.
Thank you again for taking so much time with my family, you’re a true gentleman!!!
Phi. said on June 5th, 2007 at 1:47 pm:
Sorry Vaizey! Had to come back to this today as there seems little else on the net ironically and there is subject matter for attention here.
This morning I recieved a letter from the Child Benefit department stating that my eldest son’s allowance will be stopping in August due to his age, I could apply (the same as any other parent, regardless of income) for this to be extended a further 2 years if he is to remain in education. The application only leaves room for formal schooling details. After enduring a lengthy call with the department and having been passed up through colleagues and repeating my situation many a time despite nobody really knowing whether I should be permitted it or not the final person advised me not, which I shall challenge. My son will be studying from home again next year for further GCSE’s, A levels and possibly a TEFL course as he is fluent in two other languages than english (at 16yrs and home educated) and wants to travel whilst working, this will probably take up to 5 hrs of his day and a great in put from myself in helping and supervising (more time than required at college to qualify for child benefit) not including the extra hours pre exam time. As Sue said before there is no provision for heme education funds, there is also a stigma attached to it from some views of a similar kind to being a single parent, the circumstances of how you got to this point are not taken in to consideration and it is looked upon as if your children simply don’t attend school. I removed both of my sons from senior school in there first year due to the disruption they were experiencing and not the cause of which was having a great effect on the good intellect they had left primary school with. They do not suffer socially in any way and have many friends and normal interests for their ages, music, fashion etc. and are doing better from what I gather than mny other children in our local schools.