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]
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]
