As home education continues to increase in popularity there are many changes that affect everybody in the community. Some of these changes are a natural part of our evolving and changing world and society, and will need to be adapted to or even embraced. For example, there is far more information available through technology. Learning of any sort, or on any topic, is quite literally at our finger tips. Connections and communication are available through a variety of means. And support in many cases is immediately available.
The world itself is becoming more flexible, with working from home, meeting people remotely and being in control of your own timetable becoming more commonplace, making the philosophy of home education even more suitable for the world our children will grow up in. There is generally a shift towards more acceptance of the choices made around education.
In many ways this is an exciting time that should be very encouraging and raise confidence that we have “done the right thing” by choosing this route and becoming part of a diverse, committed and likeminded community.
However, this is not being reported as the experience by many, and it is troubling to hear. While we should, as a community, be becoming more united in our common goals, there is actually more division at this time.
It is important to take note of these issues and to try to understand why these changes are happening.
With any community, the larger it gets the more there will be individuals who choose their own route or who have differing approaches and beliefs. There is an inevitability to some of these changes, as there is to the many positives. But there is increasing evidence that there are divisions and differences within the community that many are finding difficult to navigate and are giving cause for great concern.
In order to gain an understanding of what is happening, with a view to implementing solutions, it is necessary to address the most common and recurring difficulties. These can then be evaluated further to look at the reasons behind these changes before solutions can be considered.
Common themes that are raised and outlined below are uncertainty over the future, limited access to groups and different responses to the Local Authority.

1. Uncertainty over the future

As those who have read the website or follow the social media groups will know, the government has made introducing a register for Children Not in School a priority. This register will include home educated families as well as those missing education. This has far reaching implications for the autonomy and freedom we currently enjoy to nurture our children to achieve. For anyone who has had the scrutiny of the local authority, or even other services involved, for whatever reason, this thought is not surprisingly a source of anxiety. The success of home education for individual children depends upon parents being able to exercise their right to home educate and follow whatever learning path they believe is most suitable for their child. For anyone whose children have really struggled with school, the thought of this alternative being threatened or even taken away, or the thought of more hoops to jump through, is a very stressful thought.
Added to this uncertainty is the changes that many colleges and exam boards are making. Despite the increasing population of home educated children and the growing body of evidence on the valid learning that occurs, colleges seem to be increasingly making access to their courses very difficult for our community. Many parents are, rightly, concerned that if college is the desired route in the future then this might not be available. While home education is generally more focused on what is being learned today, and developing lifelong skills, while allowing the future to unfold, most also need the reassurance that doors of opportunity are not being closed.

2. Limited access to groups

Increasing numbers of families choosing to home educate – a figure that has doubled in the last 10 years – should result in positive outcomes for the whole home education community, as need drives the provision of more affordable daytime groups and activities, more free resources and more parents themselves getting involved with the provision of individual and community activities.
Yet many home educators are reporting experiencing issues with attending groups. Problems range from the age segregation meaning that siblings cannot attend the same groups, to the cost of such groups and even to feeling unwelcome by established group members. The need for inclusive, family friendly and affordable activities is a very important feature of most people’s home education, enabling socialisation for both the children and their parents, valuable support amongst like minded people and the acquisition or application of skills.
So why are so many finding themselves priced out of groups, unable to attend because of differing ages of children or just feeling unhappy with the atmosphere at the group? And what can be done to make sure that activities and groups are available and accessible to all who would benefit from them?

3. Different responses to the Local Authority

Those experienced with home education, or other that have had experience of various agencies that purport to support and guide, will know the importance of following the tried and trusted guidelines, detailed clearly on the website.
While such a diverse community will undoubtedly form their own groups based on need and locality, and while the approaches and day to day conduct of the home education might look very different between families, all involved in home education have a responsibility to follow a common philosophy. It is comparable to any large corporation. There may be several departments with entirely different remits, but the health and safety policy of the company must be followed by all. Otherwise the health and safety of all those in the company will be compromised. And in this instance there are many home educators who are worried that the conduct of others, while individually seeming appropriate, is undermining the commitment and dedication of so many to ensure that our children maintain the right to access individualised home education and that this remains the responsibility of the parents.
Following a consistent approach is made more difficult by different Local Authorities following their own interpretation of the rules and trying to go beyond their duty. But this, in fact, makes it more important that we are united in our approach across Local Authorities. Yet this is not happening. More and more Local Authorities are overstepping their duties and more families are allowing it to happen, which could lead to an unwelcome change where there is more involvement and monitoring which follows their agenda, not the needs of the child. This is a reason why many have chosen to leave the school system and so it seems disheartening that so many are inviting this level of scrutiny and control into the home education community.
So why are so many, especially those new to home education, not following the guidelines regarding reports and getting so anxious about declining home visits and meetings? From an objective point of view, when compared with the demands made by schools, with attendance, homework, parents evenings and other expectations, the requirements of the home education route are relatively simple. Communication needs to be kept in writing, the templates for all required communications are available, any correspondence takes a short amount of time and all legal requirements are covered for you within these templates. This approach is tried and tested by thousands and the advice given is consistent. In essence, you can’t go wrong. And if your LA makes things more difficult than they need to be, support is quickly available free of charge. So why are people so reluctant or hesitant when confronted with the expectations of the Local Authority?

When looking at these problems that have been raised, it becomes apparent that these changes are causing, amongst many, a climate of uncertainty, frustration and exclusion. These are the very factors that home education aims to eliminate. The importance of addressing them so that home education can confidently be experienced as positive for all is significant. In future blogs, the reasons behind these changes and difficulties will be explored to gain an understanding of why these issues are taking place, with an aim of exploring what can be done to resolve them or limit their impact.