New approach to support Home Educators in the Borders
Tuesday, April 29 2008
Scottish Borders Council’s Education Executive today (Tuesday 29 April) approved a new policy on home education that builds on recent guidelines published by the Scottish Government.
Commending the new policy Councillor Catriona Bhatia, Executive Member for Education said “Our new approach creates the right balance between respecting the legal right of parents to educate their children at home and safeguarding the future of all children. While their education may be perhaps considered unconventional, it is essential that home educated children enjoy a breadth of experiences that will enable them to cope effectively in today’s society and achieve their potential.”
There are approximately forty families in the Borders that choose to educate their children at home. Support for parents is offered across a number of areas, including access to SBC’s education resource centre and (where space permits) allowing flexi school where children join classes in school for specialist subjects, such as science. Whenever possible the authority will also enable home educate children to sit national examinations in school. A copy of the policy and links to national home education support organisations are available from the council website: www.scotborders.gov.uk
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