Home educators could teach officials a lesson

Published on Tuesday 9 September 2008 09:44

BECOMING a home educator was a steep learning curve for me. Having suffered agonies with my daughter due to school-related problems and the system's failure to accommodate her needs, I had no choice but to take back personal responsibility for her education.

It was not easy, having been badly misinformed by the council before finding reliable support from Schoolhouse, which provides information and support for those educating their children at home.

Not many parents know this, but the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000 requires local authorities to ensure the schooling they provide is "directed to the development of the personality, talents and mental and physical abilities of the child or young person to their fullest potential", and the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 entitles children to additional support where required. Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, children have the right to have their views taken into account too.

Too often, these legal obligations are not met by authorities and children are left unsupported and vulnerable in a system which routinely ignores or denies problems and even accepts bullying as a 'normal' part of school life.

Fortunately, the law places the duty on parents to provide a suitable and efficient education for their children by sending them to school or by other means, so there is a legal escape route. However, despite the Scottish Government issuing guidance to local authorities, families often encounter hostility when they decide to remove their children from school.

Meanwhile, these same local authorities seek to interrogate home-educated children, many of whom have been denied their rights in the classroom or have been bullied out of school, to ensure that their 'voice' is heard. The hypocrisy is staggering.

I take seriously my rights and responsibilities as a parent. I wish the public servants running state schools would take their responsibilities even half as seriously.

&#149 Michelle Stuart is a home educator in West Lothian