Well so much for the idea that the new legislation that comedy duo Balls and Badman want to introduce will only be good for home educators, it has done much harm even while it is only proposed legislation, not least in the amount of time it means that we home educated parents have wasted on [Continue]

I’ve just heard the latest on Kerry Robertson and the thought of social services virtually wrenching her baby from it’s mothers breast leads me feeling numb.  I’m not one for trial by newspaper, especially where the Daily Mail is concerned, but Fife council’s behaviour has all the hallmarks of our [Continue]

When will you leave us? When will we be free? How long will we march? How long will it be? Badman why won’t you understand? You think we need your guidelines You won’t believe we’re right Please leave us alone We don’t want a fight Badman please just listen! You need us to prove we really are ok To prevent us from danger Help our [Continue]

I have recently delved into the world of the Freedom of Information Act.  Under the act the people of this country have the right to request the release of information held by public bodies.  It’s all about transparency.  For apparently obvious reasons, the government added in a number of safeguards, under which public departments [Continue]

Over the last few days I have been posting a series of blog articles looking at the Badman review of home education, and proposals to introduce new legislation on the back of it.  If you don’t know about the review, or the  catastrophic effects it could have on educational freedoms and family rights in the [Continue]

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]

The girl’s are busy getting ready for an early dash to the library this morning.  They are determined to get to the library for opening time in order to be the first on the “Reading Challenge” list.  No pressure from the parents, they just like reading and like the library.  Oh, and Rebekah in particular [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]