I’m currently panicking about my workshop on attendance next week and have blogged some of my thoughts. #Edusky #thisisAP open.substack.com/pub/johnsonp...
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Also i appreciate your experiences with that EHE family hiding abuse, but it was ONE family. There are far more children attending school who suffer abuse, there also children abused by the school system. We need to be very careful to not claim that school is the only way to keep children safe. It
aug 29, 2025, 11:40 am • 4 0 • view
And remember for that one family it was another 100 for philosophical reasons, probably the same for unmet need etc. I deal with the unusual and out of scope
aug 29, 2025, 12:06 pm • 4 0 • view
Is not and not only that our schools are currently failing huge numbers of children. And even those in schools & seemingly ok, are not thriving. It is not all schools responsibility though we need investment in early years, in children's services, in mental health, in SEND, in schools & communities.
aug 29, 2025, 11:40 am • 3 0 • view
If that was done and we work collaboratively with families we would gain back trust. Currently trust is eroded. The system is adversarial, pitched as a fight between parents, schools, local authorities. And the ones being harmed are children.
aug 29, 2025, 11:40 am • 4 0 • view
Yes fines don’t work? Is there evidence they work? But it doesn’t deal with underlying issues - whether that’s unmet need, hiding from the lens of scrutiny, or children not feeling safe at school.
aug 29, 2025, 3:07 pm • 2 0 • view
Nope fines dont work at all. Those that can afford to pay them do and go on holiday anyway. The families getting fined because their child cant attend because of unmet needs or perhaps family are struggling in other ways aren't helped by fines. Punitive measures dont address needs.
aug 29, 2025, 3:18 pm • 4 0 • view
My survey showed 40% of families who deregistered in secondary were concerned about the possibility of fines. It just adds stress to an already difficult situation.
aug 31, 2025, 8:49 am • 2 0 • view
Is this research online anywhere? I’d love to read it.
aug 31, 2025, 1:05 pm • 1 0 • view
There are some posts on it on my substack starting here: open.substack.com/pub/learnwha... I haven’t written it up as a single report, which I really should, but there is a lot to it and only so much time!
aug 31, 2025, 1:09 pm • 0 0 • view
Incidentally, I would LOVE to know if home ed numbers are much lower in Scotland than England. My impression is that they are (I live in Scotland but grew up in England, and vaguely keep up with home ed community in my home town). But I can’t see a robust way to find out.
aug 31, 2025, 2:04 pm • 2 0 • view
There aren't any officially published stats for Scotland, at least not when I last looked. EF have done FoIs which include Scottish LAs though. In '23 Scotland was 3.9 / 1000 compared to 12.3 / 1000 in England. I haven't updated for '24 but the data is here: educationalfreedom.org.uk/research-and...
aug 31, 2025, 3:24 pm • 1 0 • view
I know the feeling…
aug 31, 2025, 1:51 pm • 2 0 • view
The one with stats on fines and pressure from schools and LAs is here: open.substack.com/pub/learnwha...
aug 31, 2025, 1:11 pm • 0 0 • view
This is brilliant, thank you. Must have taken you ages!
aug 31, 2025, 2:00 pm • 2 0 • view
Yep smalls school started saying they wouldn't authorise his absences, ie silent threat of fines. I had to point out all the guidance that showed they should be authorising it. But then both send & inclusion & medical needs both refused to provide alternative education so he has missed out on over a
aug 31, 2025, 10:17 am • 1 0 • view
Year of school. Was part time most of the yr before that. Attendance & education only matters when they can blame parents. When the school & local authority failing to provide a suitable education they are all silent. And this hypocrisy is further alienating families & adding to stressful situation.
aug 31, 2025, 10:17 am • 2 1 • view
But isn't this similar to saying 'detentions dont work' because a minority of children get lots of them? I suspect having fines demonstrates to lots of parents/families that school is important and therefore they should attend - and therefore it is hard to measure its wider success.
aug 31, 2025, 8:55 am • 0 0 • view
Detentions dont work either though, punitive measures rarely do. All fines are doung is actually further alienating many families feom education system creating frustration, hardship and penalising many families where ut usnt a choice, where children have unmet needs. So not only does not make a
aug 31, 2025, 10:12 am • 1 0 • view
Difference in stopping holidays or improving attitudes to attendance it also creates huge stress, and HARMS families who actually need help. It also doesn't help schools & families to work together which is ultimately what is needed.
aug 31, 2025, 10:12 am • 1 0 • view
I honestly think detentions do work for the majority of kids. Just like fines work for the majority of public transport users. There is a minority of kids/families/people who need something else or something alongside but systems for a mass population (such as schools) will always have that.
aug 31, 2025, 10:30 am • 1 0 • view
We can recognise that fines or detentions are working for a particular individual but they are working for lots of other people. (Thats not to say that this majority 'like' the potnetial for detentions or fines but it means those systems, on a whole, are able to function more smoothly.)
aug 31, 2025, 10:30 am • 1 0 • view
In the current system a lot of children being 'electively home educated' is not really ekectyve. Its families who have no other choice, who cant fight the system to get the EHCP or specialist provision. Honestly if I wasnt a solo parent & my situation was different its probably where I wd be with
aug 29, 2025, 11:35 am • 3 0 • view
Small & its where the system is pushing me. But we are getting EOTAS, again not choice but its what small needs, there is no school to meet his needs. They absolutely need to be looking at why & safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. I do believe families should have choice though. We need to
aug 29, 2025, 11:35 am • 4 0 • view
Let go of the default that school is what's best, because its not for all. I actually home educated no 1&2 until they were 9 & 6. Both summer born boys, it was right for them, for our family. Circumstances changed, & different children need different things & what they need CAN change!
aug 29, 2025, 11:35 am • 4 0 • view
It is, but, those families are largely really glad that they made the choice (and were able to do so), even if they didn’t originally want to. We need to both protect that safety valve *and* make it less needed.
aug 31, 2025, 8:51 am • 3 0 • view
Yes many are but it also involves a LOT of sacrifice for those families, often in terms of work and for women predominantly having to give up careers. Getting to that point also causes so much trauma.
aug 31, 2025, 10:09 am • 2 0 • view
💯
aug 31, 2025, 10:10 am • 0 0 • view
Absolutely - I have some data on this in my researched talk too.
aug 31, 2025, 10:11 am • 1 0 • view
And - ideally - also offer support to families who are prepared to take on EHE but would welcome some help with it. Again while protecting those for whom that would just make things worse again.
aug 31, 2025, 8:53 am • 1 0 • view
All of this. So well put Sarah. The why is essential and we need to address the disconnect between schools and the needs of children and families.
aug 29, 2025, 11:08 am • 5 0 • view
And that’s a fundamental that as @runningsarah.bsky.social rightly says - trust has been eroded
aug 29, 2025, 3:07 pm • 4 0 • view
This strikes a chord. I've spent this summer reflecting on our experiences, now that we've reached the end of Y11, trying to put everything into some sort of shape that could help others, both families and schools. It's very complex! Looking forward to being at your session next Saturday!
aug 31, 2025, 6:46 am • 2 0 • view
Ah brilliant - look forward to seeing you 🥰 What other sessions you going to?
aug 31, 2025, 8:40 am • 1 0 • view
I can't find a link to the full timetable - school booked for a group of us to go so I haven't had anything sent through yet. Loads of interesting speakers, though, so I'm imagining it'll be hard to choose!
aug 31, 2025, 9:01 am • 1 0 • view
@learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social is likely very valuable for your work. @didau.bsky.social is obviously my hero and love his work. He will be talking too
aug 31, 2025, 9:15 am • 3 0 • view
Yes, both of them definitely!!
aug 31, 2025, 9:16 am • 1 0 • view
I’m talking about the overlap between SEND and EHE from the point of view of those who have opted for home education - both official data, and parents voices pre and post deregistration.
aug 31, 2025, 10:16 am • 2 0 • view
That sounds really interesting!
aug 31, 2025, 8:18 pm • 2 0 • view
Really thoughtful blog - Thank you. Have subscribed 🙂
aug 29, 2025, 2:32 pm • 1 0 • view
My eldest has struggled with school since Yr 3 and has been on part-time timetables at points to enable schools to meet her needs whilst also meeting their attendance rules from county. Without school flexing rules we would have had to EHE limiting county responsibility for her EHCP.
aug 29, 2025, 3:24 pm • 1 0 • view
To me this is why mainstream edu debate fails: a refusal to challenge the system. Especially when the rich are doing EHE via virtual schools a lot. We accept stale and untrue stats about what % attendance means success, etc, and never question if school itself is the issue. Bc that won’t get you MBE
aug 29, 2025, 10:55 am • 3 0 • view
And PLENTY of teachers are criticising the curriculum, school policies, etc, in conversations with colleagues and friends. But somehow are still convinced school is the best place for all children when they are talking to parents?
aug 31, 2025, 1:03 pm • 1 0 • view
I’m shocked by how much schools have changed. We used to have lively discussions about change , now you are told “that’s not true in my school” or “we can’t do that” and treated like a terrorist for suggesting accommodations or changes. It is sad. And this attendance/bh stuff is more of the same bs
aug 31, 2025, 1:19 pm • 0 0 • view