I wonder if I am the only one to notice that the planned 'New Guidelines', intended to replace the 2007 guidelines for local authorities dealing with home education, seem to have vanished without a trace? Readers will recall that in December there was a lot of fuss because a group of people connected with Graham Stuart MP, Chair of the education select committee, were busy rewriting the 2007 guidelines. Some people were angry about this; Tanya Berlow, one of those involved, was banned from the Home Ed Forums as a result. Alison Sauer and Imran Shah were the driving force behind the scheme and according to Tanya Berlow, a first draft would be available after Christmas. Since then, a number of things have happened.
Alison Sauer disappeared from the home education lists and forums for a while and then reappeared without saying anything about the matter. Imran Shah similarly came back after an absence. Tanya Berlow, by contrast, vanished. At one time, her name was prominent on lists such as HE-UK and EO. She no longer posts at all, which is odd. I think that it is a fair guess that those who were mixed up in this scheme realised that it was a bad idea. For one thing, the 2007 guidelines could hardly be more favourable to home educators. For another, the Department for Education keeps muttering that they are looking into whether or not a change is needed in the regulations relating to home education. I would have thought that those who did not want any change in the status quo might have felt that now is a good time to keep quiet! I mentioned a while ago that Graham Stuart has got cold feet about this enterprise as well. Since he was the man with access to Nick Gibb the Schools Minister, nothing much can be done without his help and cooperation. Finally, I think that some of those mixed up in this enterprise were a little shocked to see how much opposition there seemed to be from other home educating parents. Rightly or wrongly, Alison Sauer was viewed as trying to run with the fox and also hunt with the hounds. She was embarrassed by this perception and decided to slip back into regular home educator mode and refuse even to discuss what she had been up to.
I think that it is safe to assume that the plan for the new guidelines has been quietly dropped, which might well be a good thing. The only remaining mystery now is what has become of Tanya Berlow. She has long been one of the most wordy, prolix and vociferous people on the lists and it is strange that she has stopped posting entirely. Perhaps the group drafting the guidelines realised that Tanya could never be silenced and she is now lying in a shallow grave on the Somerset Levels?
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They 'may' have been dropped , bu it is equally likely that they have just decided to keep quiet about it all - because of the opposition of some and the speculation of others ( eg er..you).
ReplyDeleteI have noticed 2 things though - it would seem that in every case we know about where complaints about the activities of LAs have been sent to Nick Gibb (which is apparently what Graham Stuart told people to do) Nick Gibb has sent out a standard reply saying it is up to LAs to decide what is appropriate in such cases, and not doing any more. This would perhaps tend to suggest that there isn't going to be much action. In addition some LAs are getting more confrontational and not backing down when faced with opposition - which suggests they have more confidence?? -
' In addition some LAs are getting more confrontational and not backing down when faced with opposition - which suggests they have more confidence?? -'
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that is a good point. If I didn't know any better, I would think that a lot of local authorities feel that the Department for Education is backing them in taking a harder line towards awkward and uncooperative home educators. There is certainly no impression that they have been told to lay off, which is what some understood Nick Gibb would be telling them.
'Perhaps the group drafting the guidelines realised that Tanya could never be silenced and she is now lying in a shallow grave on the Somerset Levels?'
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps she has to get on with the business of her everyday life.
Oh my goodness you are really reaching in your post today.
ReplyDeleteI dont expect anything has become of Tania Berlow or any of these other individuals. I dare say all of them are off leading their lives, steering clear of all the s*** stirrers and trouble makers who are trying to create something out of nothing, and are generally keeping out of everyones way.
I doubt the guidelines have been dropped or forgotten about. It's probable that they are just not being talked about within the wider community in order to save having to keep answering the same questions and suffering the same persecutions.
Old Webb says-Yes, I think that is a good point. If I didn't know any better, I would think that a lot of local authorities feel that the Department for Education is backing them in taking a harder line towards awkward and uncooperative home educators. There is certainly no impression that they have been told to lay off, which is what some understood Nick Gibb would be telling them.
ReplyDeleteWe nice awkward(or know the correct legal postion) and HCC have kept well away from us not word from them in over 5 years!
Joking about someone dying, that just about sums you up Webb. What an odious little man you are.
ReplyDeleteWhat if she really was very ill?
Darren
Teacher Julie says-This would perhaps tend to suggest that there isn't going to be much action.
ReplyDeleteI think your right their will be no action ie no new laws on home education you not said if your pleased that no new action is going to be taking by London over home education Julie?
Isn't it possible that someone somewhere realised that any changes to the current system would involve spending money and they wouldn't want to go and do anything crazy like that right now so it's just been filed away for a later date?
ReplyDeleteThere weren't planning to change the system, just the guidelines that describe it.
ReplyDeleteclaire Roger and boy say-Isn't it possible that someone somewhere realised that any changes to the current system would involve spending money and they wouldn't want to go and do anything crazy like that right now so it's just been filed away for a later date?
ReplyDeletewill the time ever be right to waste money on home educators dont think the public to keen on money being spent on home educators their rather have the money spent on the local schools?
' What an odious little man you are.'
ReplyDeleteIt's an odd thing, but although you have been coming on here to comment regularly for some time, I have yet to see you say anything about home education. You are of course quite welcome to come here and be rude whenever your like, there is no moderation, but I am curious to know if you are yourself a home educator. If you are, perhaps you could tell us a little about yourself and your own methods?
I am a home educator, why should my 'methods' be of any concern to you?
ReplyDeleteI would be more inclined to engage in some sort of conversation with you if I believed you to be a truthful and honourable person, but my dealings with you in the past have shown me that you are not.
Darren
I never imagined Simon to be short (Well, in the height department, at least. Not so sure about his understanding of certain educational methods).
ReplyDeleteSo perhaps the description ought to be '...odious big man...' Got to keep in practice with the pedantry.
' '...odious big man...'
ReplyDeleteI think, 'odious average sized man' would more fit the case.
'I am a home educator, why should my 'methods' be of any concern to you?'
ReplyDeleteI only ask because you never seem to want to discuss my ideas about home education or indeed anybody else's. I thought you might want to talk about your own views. This blog is a space to discuss home education and yet you show no inclination to do so.
I was just curious as to why you come on here if you don't have anything to say about home education!