This is a discussion that comes up a fair bit on UK education forums, as local authorities aren't legally entitled to samples, but sometimes ask for them.
My personal view will always be to come down hard and refuse. Not only because a child's work is private and data protection applies, but also because it tells them nothing that a detailed written account of progress doesn't.
The example I give is that one of my children is so twice exceptional that I've been told that he would need specialist education under any circumstances. The local authority officials are usually unqualified and the furthest possible from someone *more* qualified to educate him than I am. Thus, they have no benchmark to judge any improvement in his work. The only person who can really judge is me, and that's only via my experience gained through months of observation and unschooling.
If they want to hire a specialist educator of 2e kids to judge his portfolio - they can be my guest, but I'm not paying for it. Or, they can pay the *full* cost of how much he would cost to educate in the UK state system, which - from experience talking with other similar parents - is about 50,000 Australian dollars a year.
Once I've established they're unable to judge his education, they're similarly unable to judge the education of others from the occasional poem or photo. No one is raising a 'standard' child - especially many home educators!
Anyway, fortunately, I've not been asked for samples. But you can see the line I'm happy to take - for myself, and others.
Thank you for your detailed comment - totally appreciate it, and agree with it wholeheartedly. Would it be okay if I quoted (with attribution) your comments in an upcoming post? Because the point you’ve raised is incredibly important.
I tend to take the path of least resistance, and often that involves the least amount of conflict because I don’t have the spoons for the fight.
But sometimes we need to gather the armour, polish the shield, and head into battle with confidence. Your comments are just that - the armour and shield many families need to know are strong and effective.
Yes, although, as I say, it’s not been something I’ve had to do personally as our local authority has been pretty hands-off (so far).
It’s definitely something I’d be happy to push back on. Maybe it’s my neurodivergence, but I’m not keen on bureaucratic nonsense for box ticking, which trying to judge the quality of provision from scattered samples definitely is.
This is a discussion that comes up a fair bit on UK education forums, as local authorities aren't legally entitled to samples, but sometimes ask for them.
My personal view will always be to come down hard and refuse. Not only because a child's work is private and data protection applies, but also because it tells them nothing that a detailed written account of progress doesn't.
The example I give is that one of my children is so twice exceptional that I've been told that he would need specialist education under any circumstances. The local authority officials are usually unqualified and the furthest possible from someone *more* qualified to educate him than I am. Thus, they have no benchmark to judge any improvement in his work. The only person who can really judge is me, and that's only via my experience gained through months of observation and unschooling.
If they want to hire a specialist educator of 2e kids to judge his portfolio - they can be my guest, but I'm not paying for it. Or, they can pay the *full* cost of how much he would cost to educate in the UK state system, which - from experience talking with other similar parents - is about 50,000 Australian dollars a year.
Once I've established they're unable to judge his education, they're similarly unable to judge the education of others from the occasional poem or photo. No one is raising a 'standard' child - especially many home educators!
Anyway, fortunately, I've not been asked for samples. But you can see the line I'm happy to take - for myself, and others.
Thank you for your detailed comment - totally appreciate it, and agree with it wholeheartedly. Would it be okay if I quoted (with attribution) your comments in an upcoming post? Because the point you’ve raised is incredibly important.
I tend to take the path of least resistance, and often that involves the least amount of conflict because I don’t have the spoons for the fight.
But sometimes we need to gather the armour, polish the shield, and head into battle with confidence. Your comments are just that - the armour and shield many families need to know are strong and effective.
Yes, although, as I say, it’s not been something I’ve had to do personally as our local authority has been pretty hands-off (so far).
It’s definitely something I’d be happy to push back on. Maybe it’s my neurodivergence, but I’m not keen on bureaucratic nonsense for box ticking, which trying to judge the quality of provision from scattered samples definitely is.
Very practical advice, thank you.