Now this is what I call a result!! The news is in that the Badman report is recommending mandatory registration but no restrictions on the way we home educate. Whoo Hoo!!!!

   Here is the report on the BBC website.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8093796.stm

Another article on the BBC yesterday with long quotes from Ann Newstead from EO.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8017036.stm

Here is one from the Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/5496798/Home-education-crackdown-over-abuse-fear.html

Here is an article in the Guardian this morning regarding the report.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/11/home-education-parents-register

The following quotes are from the Guardian's article.

'The schools secretary, Ed Balls, is expected to accept in full recommendations made in a review of home education for mandatory registration to ensure that families are not using home tuition as a cover for abuse.'

and

'Balls told a private meeting of chiefs of local safeguarding children boards yesterday: "His [Badman's] review is based on the need to strike the right balance between two important principles: giving parents the right to decide how and where their children should be educated – because I am clear that parents bring up their children, not government – and ensuring that every child gets the education they need to help them fulfil their potential.'

I find it encouraging that the schools secretary is being clear that we as parents raise our children NOT the government!  I think this is a real result for home education in this country. For starters it validates home education as a viable option for all parents! Yeah!!!

I believe the important thing now is that we don't fight this ruling. First of all fighting so little 'interference' only makes us look like we have something to hide - which we don't! Also, if we are reasonable about registering we will have more leverage to fight them if they try to add unreasonable regulations in future. 'We worked with you this far but now you are pushing it!'

The fact that there are no recommendations to restrict the content of our home education settings is the biggest victory here! We can still do things the way we want. We only have to let someone know we are doing it. Makes sense to me!

-Deedee

***EDIT*** For those of you being directed over here from other blogs please read the following post as well before you comment and please keep it polite. We are all entitled to our own views. Thank you. - Deedee