HomeSchooler.org.uk

We now have over 600 members, so welcome to all the newcomers and thanks to all
who have made such excellent contribution I know I've found it all very useful.
Anyway, down to business:

HOME ED FAIR in London 19th September 1-5pm(message 3107)
Normally operates as an intro to home ed, but being offered as a forum for
anti-review day. Also highlighting International Freedom in Education Week
http://jipli.free.fr/

LETTER TO LAs:

Survey now closed and once feedback received letter will be reposted, hopefully
by the end of the week. Query whether anything would need revising following
Improving Skills and Safeguarding Children Bill and whether to include funding
implications (see below)

Also suggestions of who else to send to e.g. local press. Offers of financial
support for p&p costs/volunteers to print and send 10 or so are needed (message
3122).

ED BALLS STATEMENT about 21st Century Schools White Paper:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/speeches/speech.cfm?SpeechID=930

IMPROVING SKILLS AND SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BILL:

http://www.commonsleader.gov.uk/output/Page2831.asp Please see message 3126 for
details of how to comment: "The Government is keen to receive your views"...

IN THE NEWS TODAY: (thanks Anne, message 3139)

http://tinyurl.com/m29jmc
http://tinyurl.com/nle96d
http://tinyurl.com/mwvpvy

FUNDING:

Lucas asked why an impact assesment has not been undertaken - apparently
because: "We do not expect them to place any significant additional burdens on
local authorities as most already monitor home education." Naturally many people
have queried how this conclusion has been reached! (message 3155)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-06-29a.6.4&s=Home+education...

NORTHERN IRELAND:

Does anybody know if NI Education and Library
Board have already said they will impliment recommendations (message 3177) or
will have to be passed by NI Assembly?

PETITION TO No. 10:

WE NEED MORE SIGNATURES!! "A quick calculation using 1500 signatures (using Ed
Balls calculus) divide into 80,000 (estimated) children forcibly educated under
duress at home and under cruel home containment and cold porridge every day.
This become 53 children per household who are missing from State Schools!!"
(thanks Philip message 3212)
Petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/EHEreview/
link wherever you can and pass on. (I put mine on facebook, flagging up that
it's not just about HE - would you let a stranger into your home to interview
your child alone? angle & several people signed)

(There is also a Petition to support single parents who want to HE without being
forced to sign on/work outside home:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/jsaHEloneP/ )

PHILOSOPHICAL/RELIGIOUS REASONS FOR HE:

Interesting discussions on the implications for families who Home Ed for
religious reasons and criticisms of them doing so but also questioning those who
are not religiously driven, but working from an alternative educational
philosophy. (from message 3114)

Best wishes to Norma (& Imran?) who are meeting with East Sussex LA tomorrow
(Weds)

I hope that's ok, but have a nagging feeling there was something I was going to
go back and add in and have now forgotten!

UNITED WE STAND, DIVERSE WE REMAIN