HED0962

Written evidence submitted by Yvette Pointon

              •              The duties of local authorities with regards to home education, including safeguarding and assuring the quality of home education;

The responsibility of educating ones children lies with the parents not the state. Parents always know their own children best and home educating is not the easy option. I have never heard of anyone who sends their children to school saying that what they do is the harder option. I receive comments from parents, marvelling at what I do, and them wishing they have the knowledge, ability and patience to do the same. I can only encourage others as it is so rewarding. My children love home education, with the freedom to be educated in many environments and mixing and integrating with society; those who are of every age. They also love spending time with each other and us as parents. We have a wonderful bond as a family unit.

              •              whether a statutory register of home-educated children is required;

This would be time wasting for the parent and state intervention doesn’t always produce healthy outcomes. It would depend largely on the person allocated and whether or not they have bias towards or against the home educating life.

              •              the benefits children gain from home education, and the potential disadvantages they may face;

If clubs are pursued, there is no reason why a child would not be interacting socially with others. That is the main argument I have received from others. My children do many clubs each week.

              •              the quality and accessibility of support (including financial support) available for home educators and their children, including those with special educational needs, disabilities, mental health issues, or caring responsibilities, and those making the transition to further and higher education;

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              •              whether the current regulatory framework is sufficient to ensure that the wellbeing and academic achievement of home educated children is safeguarded, including where they may attend unregistered schools, have been formally excluded from school, or have been subject to ‘off-rolling’;

              •              the role that inspection should play in future regulation of home education;

              •              what improvements have been made to support home educators since the 2010-15 Education Committee published their report on ‘Support for Home Education’ in 2012; and

              •              the impact COVID-19 has had on home educated children, and what additional measures might need to be taken in order to mitigate any negative impacts.’

My children have had consistency in their work. Their teacher (myself) remains the same, as does the work. Obviously the absence of clubs during lockdown has affected all. Opening the playgrounds has been a positive idea.

November 2020