What is the National Curriculum and does it apply to me?

The National Curriculum does not apply to children educated at home, but you may wish your child to enter or re-enter state education at some point in the future and this will be easier if you take the requirements of the National Curriculum into account.  The 1996 Education Act states that every maintained school will, in future, be obliged by law to provide a basic curriculum consisting of religious education and, for pupils of compulsory school age, the National Curriculum.

The curriculum in all Blackburn with Darwen’s schools must:

• Be broad and balanced;
• Promote the spiritual, moral, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at school and in society;
• Prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

The following subjects are compulsory in Blackburn with Darwen schools:

• Religious education (unless parents exercise their right to withdraw their child)
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Design and technology 
• Information and communication technology
• History
• Geography
• Art and design
• Music
• Physical education
• A modern foreign language (from age 11)
• Citizenship

It is clear that young children acquire their learning in many different ways. In the primary school the curriculum will possibly not be taught as separate subjects but will be delivered through integrated and whole-curriculum activities.  In secondary schools it is most likely that the subjects will be taught separately.  But what you teach (or leave out) is up to you, provided that you can describe the ways in which the education is “suitable” and “efficient”.

There is no one form of education; children learn in many different ways, at different times and speeds and from different people.  Education does not always need to follow a set plan of “lessons” or even a “timetable”, but it is a good idea, when trying to justify what you are doing to someone else if you can at least show a longer term plan and the ways you are getting there

How do I go about it?

If your child is of pre-school age then you need not do anything – though it would help to keep track of children being educated at home if you write to the manager at the address above, stating that you intend to educate your child (name, date of birth, address and telephone number) at home from a particular date.

If you are withdrawing your child from a school and he/she is between the ages of five and 16 simply write to the manager at the address above stating that you intend to educate your child at home.  You will also need to write to the Headteacher of your child’s school to ask them to remove your child from the school roll.  You should explain that your child is receiving education at home.

Once you have informed the children's services department of your intention to educate your child at home you will be contacted by an education welfare officer who will arrange to visit you in your home.  Please do not expect him or her to tell you how to educate your child; it is your responsibility to plan and carry out your child’s educational experience other than at school.  They will check that you have all the information from the local education authority and that you understand the local education authority’s monitoring procedure for home education.

A further visit will be arranged by an officer from the children's services department.  This visit is to monitor the quality and range of the curriculum being offered by you.  Frequently the following questions are used as part of the meeting:

• How are you planning to ensure that your child is offered a broad balanced curriculum appropriate for his/her age, aptitude and ability and taking into account any special educational needs?
• What are your short and long-term plans?
• Have you considered how you might link together different subjects or topics?
• How do you provide for your child’s physical development?
• How do you arrange for your child to meet and play with others?
• How is the work to be organised?
• How do you plan a mixture of work including practical activities as well as written tasks?
• Are you likely to enlist the support of a tutor?
• How will you record your child’s progress/difficulties?
• Will your programme allow later access to further/higher education if appropriate?
• Will a wide range of career opportunities be available?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  The officer will discuss with you ways in which you feel the education is most appropriate for your child, to understand how you intend to fulfil your duties under the Education Act and provide an efficient full-time education suitable to the age, ability and aptitude of the child concerned. 

After visiting you at home, the officer will write a short report and send you a copy.  If the local education authority feels that the education you are providing fails to offer the child an appropriate education, you will be told the reason and given the opportunity to put things right.

Your timetable does not have to be rigid or detailed, but you should be able to show that you are serious and systematic about what you are doing.  It is your own responsibility to plan and carry out your arrangements.  You should be aware that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council cannot undertake to direct your child’s learning or to provide books or other equipment.