This is the last post in my series.   I may blog more on the subject of Badman (click on the keyword to see!) but in even more random fashion.   I have saved what for us could be the worst until last.  This could spell the end of autonomous or child led home education in [Continue]

OK, this is a biggy for democracy lovers out there.  Anyone who holds to the principle “legislate at haste, repent at leisure” (he says mangling a quotation, sorry, but it was good enough for the Spectator…). Why is new legislation being rushed through? First off, why am I claiming that legislation is being rushed in?  Well, [Continue]

OK, the following was released after a Freedom of Information request. 5. Known to social care 25 of the 90 LAs asked responded (28% response rate). • Based on the data we have from the 25 LAs, the average (median) proportion of EHE children per LA known to social care is approximately 7%. We estimate there are approximately [Continue]

Erm yes.  Except, no. The Badman review makes some recommendations for extra support for home educators.  It also dresses up some unnecessary and intrusive interventions as support.  Some of the support suggested are actually things a lot of home educators would like access to, and would cost little or nothing to offer (such as access to [Continue]

The Badman review calls for a new definition of what constitutes a suitable and efficient education: “Recommendation 2 That the DCSF review the current statutory definition of what constitutes a “suitable” and “efficient” education in the light of the Rose review of the primary curriculum, and other changes to curriculum assessment and [Continue]

Apparently the new measures proposed aren’t going to cost anything significant, and the recommendations that would cost money (essential the only ones that might have given something back to HEers) don’t appear to be on the radar any time soon.  Here are two statements relating to funding: “I accept all the recommendations in your report [Continue]

This is a no-brainer for some local authorities.  How can we possibly ensure all children are safe if we can’t see them?  How can we possibly ensure the child’s voice is heard if we can’t talk to them? I think this point of view comes from a misunderstanding of legislation, a misunderstanding of children’s rights, and [Continue]

Alternative title: Nanny knows best I have mentioned previously that the evidence base for Badman’s recommendations is missing. So what is the driving force behind the proposed legislation? There has been pressure from some LEAs on the government to give them extra powers so the can ensure all children meet the 5 Every Child [Continue]

Some people may respond to home educators complaining about the proposed legislation with a question: “What’s wrong with it?”. That’s an understandable position, but I think it’s the wrong approach. When government proposes new legislation we should in fact be asking “What’s right with it?”. Government should not be about new [Continue]

I have been wondering how on earth to coherently blog about the Badman review and the proposed government legislation announced immediately it was accepted by government. The trouble is, it’s tricky to communicate the full enormity of the can of worms this opens, not just for home educators, but for education more broadly, and [Continue]