Local home educating families are holding a 'Not Back To School Picnic' at Portswood Recreation Ground on Wednesday (Sept 16) to raise awareness of home ed as a “legal, viable and exciting alternative to school” - and to protest about what they see as unnecessary Government meddling.It’s one of around 40 similar gatherings taking place nationally on the same day.
“A picnic is very different from a formal meal with limited menu and everyone sitting at a table - children at a picnic choose what to eat and in what order, they run off and play between bites — and often the food seems to taste all the better for being eaten outside in this way.” Not back to school picnic leaflet.
Events have been triggered following a review of home education by the Government.
Home educators say Graham Badman’s review implies that home educated children are “hidden members of society”, and the recommendations would give local authorities unnecessary powers to access their family homes - and even to interview children alone.
People who make this [home educating] choice are often called ‘home educators’, but the truth is that education outside school can and does happen in all sorts of places — parks, museums, buses, beaches, walking along the street — not just at home.” Not back to school picnic leaflet
Targets
The review also suggests learning targets should be introduced — an approach which is often at odds with child-led learning approaches adopted by home educators because the school system hasn’t worked for their children. The Southampton home education group, SEEDS, is five years old and currently has 44 member families. It holds a schedule of regular activities and educational visits enabling children to socialise and develop academic skills. Nationally, hundreds of children are educated 'otherwise than at school' be it in a structured school-at-home setting, or a more 'free-range' autonomous approach.
Bubbles
Anyone who is interested is welcome to come along to find out more between 11.30 and 2 on Wednesday, when children will be taking part in recorder performances, drama rehearsal and dance improvisation, as well as other fun activities like face-painting, juggling and bubble-blowing. The event will be in the Scout Hut in Brickfield Road if the weather is wet.You can hear a series of interviews with SEEDS parents and children recorded earlier in the year, using the player below.
Links
Education Otherwise - Home Education Support Charity
HomeSchooler.org.uk - Resources for the defence of family rights and freedom in education...
Department for children, schools and families — review of home education
Petition to Reject the Report to the Secretary of State on the Review of Elective Home Education in England by Graham Badman