Days 1 and 2

So yesterday, Matthew started school. We arrived nice and early, as instructed, ready to meet his teacher and be shown around. As it turned out, we weren't shown around at all, but he did meet his teacher, Jane. The teachers at this school are all called by their first names, rather than Miss/Sir. I like it. Jane showed Matthew where to line up when the bell went, and there were some children who were already there, and were keen to get to know him. So I left him in the line and stood with some other parents I know. The bell went, and he went off without a backwards glance!

Despite still having 3 children still at home, the house felt very empty without him, and I've started to worry about what it's going to be like once I only have Ava, and beyond that, none of them! I phoned the LEA about Frankie's place, but apparently there's no new news there and I'm to call back Friday.

So home time came around, and I walked to the school with a friend. Chatting away in the playground, I was almost knocked to the floor by a flying hug from Matthew, followed by him running off to play! I was told by various people that he'd got 3 silver awards, and had spoken on stage by himself in front of the whole school as it was his class's assembly! Wow!

On the way home, I asked him about his day, whether he'd liked it and so on. He said "I had a sort of roast for dinner. And cake and custard for pudding." And then ran off ahead. So I assumed that was the seal of approval on the whole day!

Overnight he was sick. Twice. When he got up this morning, he was very pale, and very tired, but insisted he wanted to go to school. I said maybe he should have a slice of toast or no breakfast, he agreed but asked for a drink of milk. I said no, you can have some water once you're dressed. He got his uniform on, swimming kit ready, took his drink and promptly threw up again. So I got him changed into his pyjamas, phoned the school and dealt with his almighty tantrum (which is actually still going on, he's in mega-sulk mode right now). The tantrum has at least confirmed that he likes school, so much that he wants to go while he's sick...

I'm hoping it's just one of those quick bugs, and he'll be right as rain tomorrow and can get back there :)

I hate bureaucracy!!

Back in the day, if you wanted a school place for your child, you went to the school, had a look around, filled out the form, handed it in at the office and if there was a space, they would offer it and give you the starting date.

Not any more though. These days, the Education Authority is outsourced, the applications process is centralised, and the whole thing is a nightmare.

First, I spoke to the headteacher of the school I wanted Matthew and Frankie to attend and asked if she had any spaces in year 4 and reception. Let me check, she said. Yes, 3 spaces in year 4 and 2 spaces in reception. Great I said, when could they start? Sorry, she said, you have to go through CEA@Islington, it's all changed now. Here's the number.

So I phoned CEA. I have a son in year 4, and a daughter in reception. I'd like them to go to my local primary school. There are spaces. When can they start?

Well first you need to download the application form, fill it out and send it back to us. Then we will check if there are spaces in the school you want, and if there are, contact the school to say they can allocate the places to your children. The school will then contact you to arrange a start date. By the way, the school you want has a waiting list in both those years and there are no spaces.

I duly downloaded the forms, filled them out, sent them off. Double checked with  the school about whether the places existed, apparently they did.

3 days later, I'd heard nothing, so I phoned CEA. There's a waiting list for both years. And they haven't processed the applications so they can't say where on the waiting list my children are. They said there may be spaces as the school reported, but they haven't updated their systems yet. The will work on it this afternoon and get back to me by 5pm.

2 days later, I called them again. Ah yes, Matthew is #2 on the waiting list. Frankie is #2 on the waiting list. There are 3 spaces in year 4, so I'll let the school know and he should be able to start Monday. There are 'potentially' 2 spaces in reception. But they are created by children who haven't shown up since the beginning of term, and we need to trace these children before we can offer the space. But Frankie will go to #1 on the waiting list as soon as Matthew starts due to siblings taking priority. I'll contact the school today so you can get Matthew in on Monday.

3 days later (yesterday), I still had heard nothing, so I phoned the school. They hadn't received the official offer for Matthew. So back to CEA. They had delayed sending Matthew's offer through as they thought they had potentially found one of the 'missing' children and so were trying to combine the 2 applications so Matthew and Frankie could start together. They were just waiting for the CME (Children Missing Edcuation) officer to report back. They would phone me that evening.

This morning, I called again! The CME officer wasn't in today, so they couldn't offer Frankie her place but they would send Matthew's offer through now. 2 hours later, the school phoned me. We visit the school on Monday, and Matthew starts Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, they should know whether Frankie has a place or not. PHEW!!

So I called CEA again. Are there any schools with spaces in year 10 for Kianna? Maybe. There are 'potentially' spaces in one school. You need to download the form....

How we got to where we are...

So, we've been home educating for a while now. Ava (2) and Frankie (4) have never been to school or nursery. Matthew came out of school in year 2 due to the school being pretty rubbish, and them putting him under too much pressure to write too much. Kianna and Charlei left their secondary school after the school failed to deal with endemic bullying. Jess chose to stay at school. Jess is now working, doing an apprenticeship at a nursery. After a year of home edding, Charlei got a place at college to study to be a chef.

Kianna decided, at the start of the summer holidays, that she would like to go back to school to do her GCSEs. Mainly because there were several subjects that she wouldn't be able to do at home, but also I think she missed the environment of school. Many discussions about the pros and cons later, and we all agreed that she could. And Matthew decided he wanted to go back to school, and Frankie decided she would like to start too.

And so, our home educating journey comes to an end, and our back to school journey begins...