Elective Home Education Day Conference

This day conference seeks to develop critical discussion on all three aspects (EHE, policy, and the academic debate). In particular, we seek to review ‘suitable’ and ‘efficient’ as educationally significant (see Section 7, Education Act 1996), which the Badman Report largely side-stepped.

The conference, stimulated by a number of papers and responses, will seek to explore the legitimacy of this conceptual framework for EHE, and possible conceptualisations which offer a practical way forward for parents and policy makers in a UK context.

Event details here.

UPDATE: Please read this letter to the organisers.

Wales Environmental Home Education Camp

30th Aug – 5th Sept

This is the fifth year that the camp has been running at Pengraig. A beautiful farm set in 78 acres of countryside near Carmarthen in West Wales. The farm is home to the Majical Youth Theatre Group external link image who have more than 20 years experience in running and organising events of all sizes, for kids of all ages.

Cost: Early bird tickets are available at the cost of £150 per family. This offer is available until 1st April 2010. The price from 1st April will rise to the full tariff of £200 per family. Limited concessions are available for single parents with proof of benefits.

Find out more here.

Regulating Home Education

Implementing the New System
Date: Thursday 25th February 2010
Time: 10.30am – 3.15pm (including networking lunch)
Venue: Westminster
Cost: £225 per place or £175 for two or more places
FFI click here.

Home Ed at Portishead's Victorian Evening

Parents interested in offering their children home schooling will have a chance to talk to people who are already doing so, at Portishead's Victorian Evening. The North Somerset Home Education Group, set up in 2001, is taking a stand at the fair to allow people to find out more about the group.

It is made up of families from across North Somerset who have chosen to teach their children at home. The group meets regularly for social activities and to take part in physical activities with the children like gymnastics and ice skating. They also organise educational workshops.

Group member Sarah Souter said: "Some parents decide to home educate because they believe it's the best way for the child to learn and grow. Other parents turn to home education when school placements haven't worked out for various reasons such as bullying or unmet special educational needs."

Home education can mean different things to different people, with some following a timetable and curriculum while others have a less structured approach. To find out more call Vicky on 01275 848425 or say hello at the stand in Portishead High Street on December 11.

From here.

Home-ed on the IoI Education Forum

Tuesday 24 November: This will be a joint event with the Parents Forum at which mother and author Jennie Bristow will argue for home schooling while father and educationalist Toby Marshall will put the case against.

Is home schooling defensible? Why can’t parents be free to educate their children in any way they wish? Should the state regulate those who chose to home school? Are their occasions when, for the social good and children’s own good, the parents’ desire to do their own thing should be overruled? For further details or to register, email, or ring Dennis Hayes on 07791200341

From here. Podcast may become available here.

"Not back to School Picnic" in Bath

The Bath Home Education group are having a "Not back to School Picnic" in Alice Park (near Larkhall along the London Road) this Sunday 13th September from 12-2pm to raise awareness of home education in this country.

If you are thinking of this for your own children or would just like to know more about it or the kind of parents who chose to home educate please come along and have a chat and some food. (Bring your own picnic). We look forward to seeing you there.

Not Back to School picnic in Swindon

Home Educating families in Swindon are holding a 'Not Back to School' bubble blowing picnic. This is a national event and across the country picnics are being organised for families to meet with old friends and make new ones, dispelling the myth that home educated children do not get a chance to socialise and that home-educated children are not 'hidden'. It will send a message to the government to object about suggested restrictions on home education. This will also be a chance for families new to home education to find out about the many activities that run in the county and about home-education in general.

Hundreds of children in the county are educated 'otherwise than at school' be it in a structured school at home setting, or a more 'free-range' autonomous approach.

The gatherings also are hoping to show that Home Educating families are part of the wider community, we would welcome anybody wishing to find out more about Home Education to come along and join in the fun.

The picnic will take place on 15th September
Queens Park 11.00 - 3pm.
All welcome.

Home Education Blog Carnival – call for submissions!

Debs will be hosting this to celebrate International Freedom in Education Day, on 15th September.

Join in or check it out here.

Not Back To School Picnic

It's not too late to organize a Not Back To School Picnic in your local area - or to find one to attend.

This event takes place on and around Wednesday 16th September and we already have 15 picnics confirmed to celebrate Home Education - what we do and how and why we do it.

Our intention is for this to be a very positive event to raise awareness of home education and to show that we're proud and happy to be home educators out and about in our community - not the 'hidden' families that the Badman review would like to depict.

If you are interested please come and join the group here.

The 4th Annual Home Education Fair

The Home Education Fair is a terrific opportunity to find out all about home education: how it works, what researchers say, find a home education group near you, young people who were home educated and hear about the imminent government plans to limit your freedoms with regard to education and how to help fight this.

Saturday 19 September 1-5pm

Westbourne Grove Church, Westbourne Grove, London W11. (corner of Ledbury Road and Westbourne Grove) 5-10 minutes walk from Notting Hill (Central, Circle)

Entrance: Free

There will be talks by academics in the field of home education about its theory and practice as well as talks about the imminent government plans to limit freedoms with regard to education. There will also be workshops on various areas of home education and a panel of young adults who were home educated will talk about the experience. Plus there will be stalls of national groups such as Education Otherwise, Choice in Education, and Home Education Advisory Service offering information, books and leaflets - including details of the many home education groups across London and the South East.

Children can enjoy craft activities in the play area while home educated young people will keep everyone supplied with tea and home-made cakes.

This year again we will be part of International Freedom in Education (IFED). IFED promotes educational freedoms internationally with events around the world to celebrate!

Whether you are thinking about home education for your own family, have heard about the threat to educational freedom or just want to know why more and more families are choosing it, you’ll find it all at the Home Education Fair.

Contact : Leslie Barson Tel: 020 8969 0893
Homeeducationfair@ hotmail.com