Helpline Number: 01942 897779
Email: info@educationeverywhere.co.uk
Education Everywhere Yahoo Group
What is Education Everywhere ?
We are an information sharing service, based primarily around a Helpline. This is staffed by a highly experienced team of volunteers, who all have enhanced CRB checks. We are here, ready and willing, to help anyone with a query about alternative approaches to education otherwise than going to school. This might be at a time of crisis, or simply because families would like to explore all their options, and so make an informed choice about what is best for their child's education and welfare. Parents do not need a reason as such, to opt for providing an education in place of going to school.
Who is Education Everywhere aimed at ?
We focus on families who are considering different approaches to learning. Parents may believe their child's needs and interests are best met by being out of school, with all the inherent flexibility this allows. Or a child in school may be struggling, or they may be unhappy. This might be due to unrecognised dyslexia and/or school attendance anxieties (often called 'school phobia'), or they are being bullyied etc., and the family are looking for a change.
In addition to parents; teachers, educationalists, education officers, charities, politicians, potential resource providers and so on are all very welcome to get in touch. By working together positively and constructively we can achieve so much more and hopefully broaden the educational landscape for all.
Is it legal to provide a home & community based education in place of school ?
Absolutely, just as it is legal to provide a range of different approaches when educating out of school, including fully autonomous child-centered learning which need not have a fixed time-table or prescribed curriculum. Further, home educators are not subject to assessment through SATs.
Parents are responsible for the care and education of their children, and of course are already home educating from birth. Once 'school age' arrives it is only education that becomes compulsory, not school attendance (unless a child is registered at a school, in which case call the Helpline for advice on de-registering). Parents are legally responsible for ensuring their children receive a "suitable" education, but the definition of suitable has deliberately been kept broad. Parents do not need the formal qualifications teachers require for educating large numbers of children in a school setting.
Exercising parental and student choice
Parents who prefer or need, to have their children attend school, and who find this is working well, may not wish to exercise their parental right to take an alternative approach. Others choose not to send their children, or perhaps one child, to school. Instead they opt to facilitate their child's learning through resources available at home and in the wider community; hence our name 'Education Everywhere'. The approach taken can vary as much as children do, and families often discuss how much autonomy the children will have to direct their own learning. In practice the education, whether parent or student led or degrees in between, can encompass methods similar to those used in school, through to families enabling fully independent learning. All approaches have their place, perhaps at different times in children's lives, or even for each family member.
Who runs Education Everywhere ?
We are parents (some now grandparents) who home educated our own children. Some of us turned to this as an act of desperation (in the first instance!), others because we thought it would be a lovely way to educate our children, and were fortunate in knowing that it was possible. However, even though we may have started from different perspectives, and we may (or may not) have educated our children in different ways, and may have been out of school long-term or for a short period, we soon discovered a meeting of minds and an understanding that home education has a lot to offer families - and society in general.
What experience does the group have ?
A great deal! Most of us have been involved with home education for many years, even decades. Due to our own experiences, we are passionately committed to helping families understand their education rights and responsibilities. Likewise we are keen to continue working constructively with the authorities; within the group are people who have helped education officers through meetings, or by assisting in the development of good practice and accurate literature. We have experience working with government departments, courts, legal firms and departments. And, in addition to the well informed and essential Helpline experience, various members of the group have held key positions of authority within our voluntary work as trustees, acting as chair/vice chair, as well as specialist support with learning differences and school anxieties etc., and have received recognition through an individual award for Services to Children from ChildLine.
We are just a phone call away, a call that has no strings attached, and is completely confidential. We are volunteers, we are independent and this is not a membership organisation, so you will not be encouraged to join anything. We are just serious about helping anyone who wishes to explore all the choices that are already available to children, as well as considering ways these choices might be enhanced in the future, to make education fulfilling for as many children as we possibly can.
Donations welcome if you are able to support Education Everywhere in this way.
A certain amount of income is needed to help towards the volunteers' expenses. Please email the above address and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!