The Department for Children, Schools and families announced recently;
Parents of home educated young people between the age of 14 and 16
who have the offer of a place at college 2010-2011 subject to funding can
ask their local authority to pay the college fees. In all cases where the LA
agrees to pay the fees, the LA is guaranteed to be able to recoup the
money by including the young person in the Alternative Provision census
in January 2011
At which, there was much rejoicing among home educating parents, many of whom thought that this would mean their children being given free places at colleges. One has to wonder if that is how it is going to work out in practice. Now leaving aside the question of just why so many home educating parents seem so keen to get their kids into college rather than school, what is actually happening about this?
Reading this directive carefully, we notice at once a curious thing. There is no suggestion whatsoever that the local authority will, let alone must pay the fees for these children. Parents may ask and the LA may agree. Knowing how uncooperative some local authorities can be, I hope that I am not being unduly cynical if I observe that asking is not getting. It is made very clear by the reference to, ' In all cases where the LA agrees to pay the fees', that the DCSF expects there to be other cases where the LA does not agree to pay the fees. How are parents to know? Are they to enrol their child at college and then ask the college to approach the local authority? What happens if their local authority says 'no'?
I have rung around a few friends who work at various colleges and I think I can see why many colleges will be very reluctant to become involved in this and actually offer places to home educated children. In short, I can see, if not what is going on, at least what some colleges think might be going on. It is this. They fear that certain local authorities are going to start getting them to take hard cases who cannot be managed at school. This could be done without any sort of prior consultation simply by the schools advising parents to deregister their kids from school and then to apply for a place at college because they are now home educators. This would mean that local authorities could, in effect, transfer difficult and unmanageable pupils from schools to colleges. If they set this up officially, they might be compelled to offer extra funding to colleges in order to help with these kids. This way, it could be done for very little.
Mind, I don't say that this is what the local authorities are up to or that this will be the result of the directive from the DCSF, simply that some people think that this could be the case. At the very least, it does not look as though access to colleges will be automatic for home educated children. I can foresee that many parents will still end up having to pay. Those hoping for such places could perhaps do worse than bear in mind the old German proverb; blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed......
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Knowing how uncooperative some local authorities can be,
ReplyDeleteAnd you wanted home eduated parents to work with Local authorities yet you just admited how unhelful LA are!
Yes, of course some local authorities can be uncooperative and unhelpful. I am sure that we have all had experience of this, not necessarily in connection with home education. The remedy is to encourage them not to be so awkward;it is not to avoid having any dealings at all with them.
ReplyDeleteWell, although I can't forsee the future either, I do know a bit about how this works in practice now.
ReplyDeleteMost colleges already have established 14-16 provision of some kind and have had for a long time (one of my boys did this 6 years ago!) Schools fund a 2 year college placement for one day a week, aiming at an NVQ type qualification in something practical (my son did motor vehicle maintenance) Current options around here include hairdressing, catering, engineering etc. Yes, the school candidates who do these are obviously the less academic, and there may be an element of bribery in the fact that the school pupils need reasonable attendance and behaviour records, but they are popular choices for many. The positive bit is the school gets points for their league table scores and the pupils seem to enjoy it.
My son was not at school, but a local school paid for his placement (the cost to the school was around one third of what they gained by him being on the roll and not attending (he was educated elsewhere on the attendance sheet).
Two local HE pupils are also having their fees paid by a school on such a scheme - the LA arranged this but the school currently pay. We assume tha this will become the responsibility of the LA directly next academic year- if it isn't out of their own budget I can't see any reason why they won't want to pay... after all it is a win - win situation for them - gives the LA a bit of contact with the family concerned; the "child" is being "seen" if that is what the LA are obsessed with, clearly some education is going on and so on.....
However there are a few very academic colleges who don't have a 14-16 provision so that won't work there; but for a college that does, I can't see why they shouldn't welcome a few HE-ers. Won't suit everyone of course, because the courses are vocational, but a bonus for some families.
Not so sure about the full time 14 -16 new Diplomas however...
and isn't it time home educators did receive a few gifts ?(although with the state of the Greek economy, I am not convined they will be much help!)
ReplyDeleteSimon wrote,
ReplyDelete"Reading this directive carefully, we notice at once a curious thing. There is no suggestion whatsoever that the local authority will, let alone must pay the fees for these children."
What do you mean by 'directive'? This isn't something the DCSF has issued to LAs, at least not yet anyway. It's just a statement they have made to EO because "is the convention that we do not post or send out new material during an election campaign." They do say they "will try to [email LAs] as soon as possible" after the election. Does the 'try' suggest room for doubt to you or is it just a turn of phrase? Is any of this definite or does it depend on who gains office and their decision on the issue?
Julie wrote,
"Most colleges already have established 14-16 provision of some kind and have had for a long time (one of my boys did this 6 years ago!)"
It was happening 30 years ago when I was that age!
Julie says-Two local HE pupils are also having their fees paid by a school on such a scheme
ReplyDeleteno such scheme here Julie living in wrong part of Hampshire or not doing home education the right way!LOL not long now to wait and see Labour finshed!
Simon says The remedy is to encourage them not to be so awkward;it is not to avoid having any dealings at all with them.
ReplyDeleteNo your wrong its best to keep well away from the Local Authorthy which is what we done LOL no visits here or meetings.
Peter,
ReplyDeleteDoes your son actually want to do a college course?- and is he the right age ?(ie has his 14th birthday this academic year?)
If so you could ask them - there wasn't any pre existing scheme - we just asked - but of course, you would then have to talk to the dreaded LA!
Yes, the sort of scheme that you talk of Julie has indeed been going for years. It is usually, as you say, done by arrangment with a school. I have a feeling that some colleges are a little uneasy about taking children who are being educated at home, because they won't know what they are getting. However, this could just be innate conservatism and desire not to try a new idea.
ReplyDeleteJulie says-but of course, you would then have to talk to the dreaded LA!
ReplyDeleteyes that is the problem Julie it is inpossible to speak to them! so no fancy college schemes for Peter they wont allow it! its the LA fault they all ways muck every thing up! why do they Julie? dont listen to old Webb he on the side of LA's Julie!