Comments on: UK Government v the family

By: LucasClan Life

LucasClan Life — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:27:19 +0000

[...] is a whole raft of kids to whom this applies, that are currently ‘hidden’. Those under 5’s who have thus far escaped detection, but to whom all beady eyes will soon be [...]

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:04:30 +0000

Fab article, can you get this published in more places!

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:33:03 +0000

Good article - very clear

Just wanted to add a caveat: my understanding of the independent midwife situation (from discussions with the wonderful wonderful IM who recently supported me through pregnancy and birth) is that the indemnity insurance demand is EU law - the UK government can’t do anything about it. As I understand it, the Association of Independent Midwives lobbied hard with the PTB, but the PTB actually had no power to do anything but be. There is a fledgling plan for IMs to offer their services through whatjamacallems - (primary care somethings?). Where currently the local hospital gets £1500 or something every time a woman goes to a GP and says she’s pregnant and goes on the books, the IMs could tender for as many of the pregnancies as the pregnant women wanted, undercutting what the NHS hospital demands. The positive side of it is that many women who previously couldn’t have afforded IMs, with the continuity of care and low case loads, will be able to get that on the NHS. Also, it’s going to be v. tempting for NHS midwives to get out and do this contract midwifery (kind of like contract hospital cleaners) - they have been begging for humane caseloading for years so they can build relationships with the women - much much better birth outcomes if they could. The down side is that the IMs will get pulled into the NHS protocols to a certain degree (because, s we all know, them as pays the piper calls the tune), and the IM route as a way for women to be supported through VBAC or twin birth or breech birth at home (where the NHS goes sniffy on them) may no longer be available.

That was a long oh-by-the-way comment!

By: Bubble

Bubble — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:56:20 +0000

Goverments do have to take account of public opinion The Labour party runs focus groups to see how people will vote! Ideology/control can only work if you can carry the voter with you! The June Euro elections are fast approaching This will be Ed Balls main concern how to try to stop losing to many seats talk at Westminster is that if to many Labour Euro M.P’s are not re -elected the party may turn on Brown! A review of home education will be way down the list of things to do after the Euro Elections. Brown did not call election last year because of focus group telling him he would lose! so they do take notice of the voter!
The press would look in detail at any case of a home educated parent/child refusing to allow an LA into its house cheap shots of abuse by government would not stop the press! Of course we must fight back and from what i have seen every home educators is doing a really good job but i do not belive Ed will go for forced home visits often with these reviews it is all talk! and very little action!! review is a test to see what flushes out! Westminster is full of reports/reviews but very little every gets done!

By: Firebird

Firebird — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:49:56 +0000

With this administration a lot of things they want to do are clearly NOT about buying votes, they are about ideology and control. How many votes do you think clamping down on the independent midwives will win? How about ContactPoint or the National ID database? Both highly unpopular with voters but Labour are powering on regardless. Cost effectiveness, public opinion and logic really don’t come into it, and really public opinion can be manipulated so easily it hardly counts.

I’m sure a TV crew would be sent away and barred from reporting any details “to protect the identities of the children” and how easy then to make sure the story becomes, “children rescued from abusive HE parents” to make an example of that family and justify the new policy?

By: Bubble

Bubble — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:55:19 +0000

i not so sure the government will go for forced home visits what is in it for the government? in other words how many votes will it get them? very few i would have thought. It is just a review.Governments have loads of reviews all the time and then often just forgets about the outcome! Review is not a law!Governments hold review to make out it is doing something about an issue! I bet at the end of the review Ed Balls will say we need more time to decide what we are going to do! but then the election is geting near and this will be his main concern how to stay in power! of course we must fight back but i do not belive they change much to do with home education! maybe a register but you will be able to register in all sorts of ways by phone or email or letter may he go for that! but i do not belive he want forced home visits how would it look on TV man from council attempting to force his way in to a home educated child’s house with the parents child saying please do not come in we do want to talk to you. it would look very bad for government if this went on!

By: Renegade Parent

Renegade Parent — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:34:45 +0000

Hello,
This is super. What you say is really compelling - linking it in with the bigger picture is really important. I was wondering if HEers with younger children could make the first move outwards, maybe with letters to newspapers, family organisations, online forums etc? Just a thought. Lisa