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Category Archives: political stuff
Unwarranted government intrusion into family life.
I was watching the local news tonight, and it turns out that the two policewomen banned from looking after each other’s children live in this area, so were interviewed on the show. They were doing each other a favour – … Continue reading
Are we just a crackpot minority?
You know, us home educators who are ranting and raving about invasion of privacy following the Badman review of home education, are we just fringe nutters? I admit we’ve made some unusual choices in our life. It isn’t standard to … Continue reading
Thinking about community.
By birth, and by preference, I’m a northerner. Born in Durham, grew up in Yorkshire, went back to university in Durham, and stayed there until I moved for a better job, as so many ppl have had to do over … Continue reading
Oh dear, Mr Badman, don’t the figures add up?
The Select Committee day of investigation into the conduct and findings of Graham Badman’s Home Education review is fast approaching. Someone has now found this little gem: Please see the attached letter from Graham Badman. Graham would like to make … Continue reading
What’s it all for?
The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable- (a) to his age, ability and aptitude, and (b) to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at … Continue reading
A chink in the armour?
On Weds I was heartened to receive an email from the Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families, advising me of their inquiry into the review. Along with a response from the UK Statistics Authority implying that they are looking … Continue reading
Swimming and MMORPG
Small spent most of Tuesday expanding his understanding of RPGs. Every now and then he needed to regroup and spent some time back with CBeebies, mainly on tikkabilla He got lots out of fusion fall, and then eventually, I dragged … Continue reading
Complaint to The UK Statistics Authority
Hi I am writing to express my concern at the statistics used to inform Graham Badman’s review of home education, released 11 June 2009. The review can be found here as a free download. and the particularly disturbing section, on … Continue reading
Next, the under fives.
The introduction of a compulsory annual visit by a health visitor or trained advocate is suggested to ensure that the most at-risk children (about 68 per cent of cases involved children from birth to four) can express concerns to a … Continue reading
Wondering how Ed Balls thinks the rest of us cope
his twitter post this morning: on the way to Cabinet… 9am start not v family-friendly… Thank good ness for grandparents… So school isn’t family friendly, business isn’t family friendly, working in a shop isn’t family friendly, in fact, pretty much … Continue reading
Democracy in action?
Tonight I am feeling betrayed and let down by a man who in all reality has no responsibility to me at all. Lord Lucas has placed an amendment against the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill as follows: 311 Insert … Continue reading
Home education review, what can we do now?
Lord Lucas asks To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, as required by the Code of Practice on Consultation, they have published an impact assessment to accompany the “Registration and Monitoring Proposals” consultation following Mr Badman’s report on Elective Home Education; … Continue reading
Broad and balanced v intrinsic motivation.
This review does not argue against the rights of parents as set out in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 outlined above, nor their deeply held convictions about education. I believe it would be wrong to seek to legislate … Continue reading
Yet another article in the guardian
Article doesn’t really get the main points about Graham Badman’s home education review across, but some comments, including Merry’s, do. Feel free to go and join the fray as there are quite a few posters who just don’t seem to … Continue reading
Jax the fire marshal
Forest school yesterday, and the first time that we had a clash on car requirements, as Tim had arranged to go pick up L from London at the same time as forest school. Fortunately Em has three spare seats in … Continue reading
Aged five and on flexi-time
Well, the publicity is continuing post Badman review, with an article in the Guardian today about flexi-schooling with the tagline “New regulation for home educators could mean a rush to take up part-time schooling, a parent writes”. I have commented … Continue reading
Excluding four year olds
Schools need not expel under 7s In the report, The Exclusion From School of Children Aged Four To Seven, Ofsted said most children “responded well to the school’s expectations”, but a few found this difficult. In the BBC report on … Continue reading
Irony
From Every Parent Matters Letter from then Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, March 2007 Parents and the home environment they create are the single most important factor in shaping their children’s well-being, achievements and prospects. We know that the overwhelming majority … Continue reading
Conversations in passing
Last night I went to drop off the chocolate cake Small and I had made for the Beaver cake stall. When I got there, Brown Beaver was in conversation with two ppl she introduced as Akela and Jill, who run … Continue reading
Cake, park, yet more swimming.
As planned today, Small and I baked a cake this morning. He doesn’t get terribly involved, apart from in licking the bowl out ,but he was there, and we talked about measurements, he did a bit of stirring, and when … Continue reading
