12/4/2009 10:14:33 AM #

Hey Lisa, you don't have to explain your absence to us, you have a new baby and a toddler who I'm sure keep you plenty busy enough!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" is fast becoming my personal motto. For a long time the phrase made little sense to me, but after the year us home educators have had, and becoming so fatigued with banging my head against various brick walls, it's become apparent to me that the way we actually live our daily, mundane lives is crucial to all of this. If we live by our convictions, remain true to ourselves, show that our lives are well-functioning and normal, it's not only good for our self esteem and sanity but it shows the world how we want it to be, if that makes any sense. Someone on Facebook recently said we should live as though we are free, and I really believe we should. That doesn't mean, as some people think it does, giving up the fight, but simply fighting in a different way. The personal is political.

Debs

12/4/2009 10:40:38 AM #

"Particularly because, as parents of under 5s, I strongly believe we will be next."

The treatment of parents (especially stay-at-home parents) of under 5s is my speciality, or so I would like to think.

A couple of weeks ago, I recalled my personal experiences (very much as written on this Blog) to an active member of the Tory party. I told this person of all the visits I had - I even gave this person a copy of my write up on one such experience and of another experience - and then told this person of my fears for the future. One of my fears is that, in the light of changes imposed on home education, including that of compulsory home inspections by OFSTED or LA officials, will these inspections now extend to mothers like myself who keep their children out of daycares and/or educare institutions?

Will an OFSTED inspector or LA official come to my home to ensure that my son and youngest daughter are reaching their "full potential"? Will the OFSTED inspectors judge me on how I am fulfilling my duties as prescribed by the EYFS framework? Will full-time mums to under 5s be expected to register, just like home educators and childminders?

The person did say some words of comfort: the days of outreach workers checking up on mothers like myself are numbered, regardless as to whoever takes the next government, because this country is all but bankrupt. Whichever Government comes to power, they will have to drastically cut public services. The person was very confident (and he has even offered me a 'slap-up' meal if he is proved wrong) that I will not receive a single 'outreach' visit next year, as those jobs will be the first for the chop. As this person pointed out, there are simply not the funds to pay someone to go to homes to encourage unwilling mothers to use services that will no longer be available, since such services will also be cut! This does seem to make sense, judging by the number of pesky appeals to save these pathetic services and institutions.

The only downside from this person's speech was the reiteration of the Tory's commitment to employing more health visitors. However, I was reassured that those health visitors will be instructed to concentrate on cases that clearly require further support, not those who appear like an easy target. Health visitors will be expected to take on the more challenging cases and not simply buck-pass them onto other agencies. They will also have to produce 'evidence' that the family is 'needy'. They will no longer be able to say to a family "you are in need because I say so." Health visitors will have to spell out to the family and on their records as to exactly what is the family's need.

As for databases and registration: it was confirmed that much of this bureaucracy was thanks to the EU and the person was surprisingly coy as to what the Tories would do. Perhaps this is an issue that the Tory party would kindly spell out their position on the matter? The person seemed to imply that the registration was here to stay but this person also said that they very much doubt that there will be an additional registration for under 5s. Surprisingly, this person did not confirm whether the Tories would scrap the ContactPoint Database.

Overall, the person was rather uncommitted on their position regarding home education. However, the person did confirm that outreach workers' days are numbered – especially if a Tory Government came to power.

What someone needs to do is to pin down these people and ask them to spell out their policies clearly. There's too much political speak (akin to the fictional Sir Humphrey Appleby), spin and coyness.

Laura

12/4/2009 1:14:42 PM #

Sadly Laura even if they spell out their policies if it suits them in power they just change them as I am sure you know. Having got them to put it in black and white makes it a bit more embarrassing I suppose but doesn't stop them. Still very interesting to hear of your conversation.

Ohhh Lisa my phone contract is up for renewal, first contract I have ever had and I didn't really use the minutes and the phone was crap although it might be my understanding of it as well. I am toying with either the iphone = lots of money each month, or keep old phone as pay as you go and spend much much less but much less fun. I am sure the younger ones of the family would love your game. I would love a tracked changes word copy to have a read of your thoughts as well.

Off to read your blog Debs.

Maire

12/4/2009 8:14:27 PM #

And on that - which games woman??? I have a DP with an iphone and the abillity to add things to the iphones at work for the public to get addicted to!!!!

Littlepurplegoth

12/4/2009 8:28:57 PM #

If they spell out their policies and then they renege on them, at least I can legitimately called them liars on the WWW without being accused of libel!

Having said that, talking to these politician is like talking to the fictious Sir Humphrey Appleby. They seem incapable of giving a simple "yes" or "no" or "don't know" answer, yet I am expected to give a "yes/no/don't know" answer when they ask me!

Worst still, on these questionaires, they ask me to keep my answers short. Yet, the same politicians go on and on and on without answering the questions asked in the first place.

I've all but given up with the UK Government and certainly with the DCSF. Instead I plan to write to the European Parliament. I am fluent in French and German as well as English. I plan to write the same letter in French, German and English in the hope that it falls on the desk of some bureacrat who might give a damn on what is happening to mothers like myself in England.

Furthermore, seeing that the UK Government seem to gold plate all EU directives, and enforce them to the letter, I am hoping that by writing direct to the EU parliament, maybe, just maybe I can influence the MEP and bureacrates who write these directives in the first place.

It's a long shot but at the moment it feels like my only hope bar from writing to The Queen but I'm not sure as to what she can do. No one in a local or national level appears to be listening. Ultimately, I know they don't give a damn. But at least I can say that I tried everything within my capabilities; I tried my best and that will give me some comfort.

Laura

12/4/2009 9:30:27 PM #

Wow! your baby has a tooth, bet you didn't do any target setting either!

Congratulations

elizabeth

12/5/2009 5:48:56 PM #

If I could use your Blog to give a shout to all those who agree with my views and interested in under 5s, could you please consider these consultations which can be accessed on www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations:

1) If you thought the story about the two policewomen being accused of illegal childminding was outrageous, please could you go to the consultation regarding the proposals to exempt reciprocal childcare arragements between friends from OFSTED registration. I personally cannot believe that I'm having to write in to support an exemption! An exemption that should be an automatic right - it's common sense. However, if we don't write in to support this exemption, it may be quietly dropped.

2) The ContactPoint register has now gone live - after several delays. However, this hasn't stopped the DCSF proposing MORE CHANGES to the way that ContactPoint is used. The deadline for responses is 29 December this year, so please have a read and have a say.

I often feel like - and certainly made to feel like - I'm a one woman sole crusader. Not many voiced their concerns regarding the lowering of the school starting age, which I did, but it obviously didn't make a blind bit of difference because, as a result, the DCSF have now posted details of its proposed changes. It's a requirement for local authorities to provide places in reception to all children from the September after their FOURTH birthday (currently it is after their FIFTH birthday). This rule will come into force as from February 2010 and will apply to admission arrangements from September 2011. For more details regarding school admissions go to www.dcsf.gov.uk/sacode

Although the DCSF claim there is an alternative option for children not 'ready' to start school, I have yet to meet anyone from Local Authority offering this option! More worringly, they don't claim to know about it and I find myself having to give DCSF and other website addresses.

I feel it's imperative to protect the rights of mothers and fathers to spend as much time with their under 5s and time as a family. I now thank God every night, for the priviledge of being able to stay at home with my babies and toddlers - a priviledge that's being denied to an increasing number of women, who are forced into slave-wage jobs.

There is something very depressing to read about a single mum of an under 5, who, despite having 3 part-time jobs working a total of just under 12 hours a day, still has a total gross income hovering around that of the £12-16,000 per annum. And of course, her toddler is in daycare for 60 hours per week, paid for by the Local Authority.

I can't be the only one who thinks this is wrong? Maybe I am....

Laura

12/5/2009 8:07:32 PM #

"Renegade Parent isn't going anywhere anytime soon and it might be time to start scrutinising the wider machinations of the DCSF and beyond."

Amen to that !!!

Link to new blog not working for me

Sheila

12/8/2009 2:42:52 PM #

www.consilium.europa.eu/.../cg00014.en07.pdf

The Lisbon Treaty has a lot to answer for. What's more, it's effective as from 1st December 2009.

I haven't finished reading it yet - it's bloody hard going - but what I've read so far does not bode well.

It's looking like the ECM, EYFS and other educational ideas do not have their origins in the DCSF but from the EU, which may explain why the government departments are ploughing on with these changes, regardless as to whether the English public want it.

The word "cowards" can be applied to those in power when it comes to this Lisbon Treaty. My personal opinion is that the seriousness of the Lisbon Treaty and it's effect on the current English way of life has been downplayed by all the political parties, and that government and the media are all guilty in keeping the English public in the dark. It may explain why all this talk about referendums have gone silent.

I don't want to sound defeatest here - but I know I do - however, I'm not sure how this Bill going through Parliament can be stopped. The EU directives must be incorporated into English Law. Perhaps this is why the party members are less than keen to answer the questions I put to them. I suspect it is either because they don't know the answer themselves (which does not bode well in itself) or they do know the answer but they also know it's not a vote winner....

Interesting times ahead for all of us in what is, effectively since the 1st December 2009, the United States of Europe - and we are part of it whether we like it or not.

Laura