h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm going to enrol my son with a local school today. Although we're not in their catchment area, I'm told they should still be able to take him on. He's only going to start attending school in September 2008, but apparently there's a waiting list, so enroling a year in advance is common and recommended. On the other hand, I heard that there's a national shortage in kids of his age, so surely I could enrol him in August 2008 and still have a placement?

Better safe than sorry, especially if you're at all picky about where he goes to school (as you should be)

I haven't thought about school for SuperChunk yet - although I really should start looking - but I'm really unhappy with broe jr's school and will probably spend the summer looking for an alternative.

You are right that there is a "national shortage" of young children at the moment, and surplus places. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6718683.stm

However some LEAs response to this is to close or amalgamate schools or cut staff, for example: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/6665313.stm

Therefore the decline in the birth rate doesn't always mean there's going to be a glut of places.

Hmmm... I also heard that I can ask to leave him for another year, so that he starts school at 5. Age is calculated from August to September the following year, and his birthday is in April, so he'll be much younger than most of the other kids. As he's already having problems, I'd rather leave him in nursery for another year where they know his needs and work to support him.

Mind you, the LEA needs to agree for us to wait...

It can be tricky where the child falls on or near the cut-off point for starting one year, or the next... I remember when I was at school, in our year, in my class come to think of it, the oldest and youngest in the class were vertually an entire year (give or take a few days) apart in age... It seemed so much easie rwhen I was younger, and when my brother was younger and starting school, unless for some specific reason you approached the LEA and asked for your child to go to a differnt school, then they'd automatically be signed up and go to the one for which catchment area you lived in with getting the place

>>"..Age is calculated from August to September the following year, and his birthday is in April, so he'll be much younger than most of the other kids."

I think you'll find it's from September to August. Therefore the oldest children in the year will have their birthdays from September 1st onwards. The youngest will be summer born, August babies, right up to the 31st. April is almost in the mid point, so he'll have just over half the class older and just under half will be younger.

Of course there is no obligation on you to send him to school at all. There's no law that says you *ever* have to. Just that the authority must provide an opportunity for his education - if you want it.

I did mean to write September to August. I wasn't too well on monday...
I thought the law regards education as mandatory. There may be the choice of home schooling, but not completely dropping basic education, surely!

>>"I thought the law regards education as mandatory."

Maybe it does. But there is absolutely no requirement for education to take place at school. You seem to be confusing the two. You are free to choose where your child is educated. This can be at school "or otherwise". If it is at school, you are free to choose either a state or an independent (non state) school. If it is "otherwise" you can do it yourself or get someone else.

http://www.nc.uk.net/nc_resources/html/about_NC.shtml
State schools must provide *opportunities* to study certain subjects because all state school pupils have an "entitlement to learning". The exception is religious education, where a learning opportunity must be provided, but parents can decline the offer of this for their children.

In a state school, the opportunity to have achievement measured must be in place. One way to measure whether any learning has taken place during this opportunity is by examination, but the exams are not compulsory. Another way to measure whether this learning has taken place is by coursework, but coursework is not compulsory.

So, the aim of the National Curriculum is "..to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and to achieve."

The opportunity to learn is an entitlement. There is no compulsion on the part of the student to prove they have quantifiably learnt a single thing.

This learning opportunity does not even have to take place in a state school. It can be "otherwise". This could be in an independent school or by elective home education.

If education takes place at home parents do not have to tell the local authority. They do not have to follow any curriculum. They do not have to have any set hours. The local authority can ask to do a home visit but parents don't have to allow them access. All parents need to do is provide some demonstration that their children have "opportunities for education".

http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/educationandlearning/whatchildrenlearn/learningathomeoutsideschool/electivehomeeducation/

That's ridiculous! Then how come they arrest parents for their kids playing truant? It's always claimed that it's the parents' responsibility that their child attends school every day. And I heard about those who refuse home visits- the police brings social services around to collect the children.

>>"..how come they arrest parents for their kids playing truant?"
If a parent has enrolled their child in the state education system and then doesn't send them, they can prosecuted. If they have formally withdrawn from the system they couldn't be prosecuted for truancy.

>>"It's always claimed that it's the parents' responsibility that their child attends school every day."
Claimed by who? Anyway, it's only the parents' responsibility *if* they have enrolled their child at a state school. The responsibility is to see that the child is educated, not schooled. There's a difference.

>>"And I heard about those who refuse home visits- the police brings social services around to collect the children."
I doubt this very much. Have you got a link to a news story where home educating parents have had their children removed from their care?

All I can say is what I wrote before is absolutely correct. Parents are free to educate their children in any way they decide. Most people decide that they want this to be at school and enroll their child into the system. But there is no legal obligation to ever send a child to school for education.

Education is compulsory, obtaining this in a state school is optional.

I've cut and paste from http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/educationandlearning/whatchildrenlearn/learningathomeoutsideschool/electivehomeeducation/ , although in a separate posting in case it needs to be removed.


Parents are allowed to educate their children at home instead of school if they choose to do so. Under UK law it is education that is compulsory, not schooling, though the vast majority of parents do choose to send their children to school. The following guidelines are useful when considering educating children at home:

It is for parents to decide how they deliver home education. They are not required to follow the National Curriculum nor to keep to school hours. Parents are required by law, however, to ensure their child receives an efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs the child may have.
Although parents are not legally required to inform their local authority when they decide to educate their children at home, it is helpful if they do this. If their child is already enrolled in a school when they decide to home educate, parents must notify the school concerned in writing that they intend to educate their child at home.
It is also advisable, but not compulsory, for parents to inform their LA of any significant changes in their circumstance relevant to the effective education of their child, such as a change of address.
The LA will need to be satisfied that a child is receiving suitable education at home, and may ask to visit the family home to talk to the parent and child, and to look at examples of work. The LA will need to be satisfied that the parent is willing and able to provide a suitable education. At the initial meeting the nature and frequency of future contact should be agreed.
LAs have no automatic right of access to parents' homes. Parents may wish to offer an alternative way of demonstrating that they are providing suitable education, for example through showing examples of work and agreeing to a meeting at another venue.
Where it appears to an LA that a child of compulsory school age is not receiving efficient or suitable full-time education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise, the LA is obliged to serve notice on the parent requiring them to satisfy the authority that their child is receiving suitable education "otherwise than at school". If the parents' reply is unsatisfactory, or if they fail to reply, the LA may issue a school attendance order (SAO).

I recommend that you use your gut instincts wrt registering your child for school. I started my older son in elementary school when he was 4. While he has always been academically on task, he struggles to fit in socially. My sister started her son when he was 4, and he has thrived both socially and academically.

As mentioned earlier, you can home-school if you want (which would drive me crazy - not enough patience) or enroll him in a preparatory program, which is what it sounds like you are leaning towards.

The first class in primary school, reception class they call it, seems to be make or break to me. 4 is such a young age anyway, and with the difficulties Ryan's experiencing already, add the change in venue, atmosphere and schedule and it could take the whole year for him to just adjust to the school. I'm not saying he's a fragile little flower, and he has adjusted to his current (second) nursery quickly enough, but there weren't any demands made at him. He's now being potty trained by them and no one reckons he's suitable for any further education right now because his communication skills are still so few and far between. I don't know if this coming year, before he goes to school is enough...