We are handing over the reins
Hi Folks.
Just to let you know that we have finally gotten around to sorting out the contact details etc for the new caretakers of ICHEA.
Your emails should now go to the right place. If you have tried to contact us in the last few weeks and have not received a response, please do contact us again as we were having some difficulty with the system and they may have gotten lost in transit.
Thanks again for all the support we have received over the last number of years. It is sad, in one sense, to hand over these reins as ICHEA has been such a huge part of our lives for so long now, but we are confident that you will be well looked after.
Thanks Martin and Ber for being so willing to take ICHEA on. We trust the Lord will bless you guys for it.
Just to let you know that we have finally gotten around to sorting out the contact details etc for the new caretakers of ICHEA.
Your emails should now go to the right place. If you have tried to contact us in the last few weeks and have not received a response, please do contact us again as we were having some difficulty with the system and they may have gotten lost in transit.
Thanks again for all the support we have received over the last number of years. It is sad, in one sense, to hand over these reins as ICHEA has been such a huge part of our lives for so long now, but we are confident that you will be well looked after.
Thanks Martin and Ber for being so willing to take ICHEA on. We trust the Lord will bless you guys for it.
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IT Courses
I found a great site for IT courses that give you a qualification through Btec.
They are not expensive in comparison to others and actually have a free course that you can do in a week too.
Really great system and very helpful staff. If you have a teckie on your hands I would really recommend them. Kanduit.co.uk
They are not expensive in comparison to others and actually have a free course that you can do in a week too.
Really great system and very helpful staff. If you have a teckie on your hands I would really recommend them. Kanduit.co.uk
New to Homeschooling?
Everything you need to get you started.
Great video from the viewpoint of a number of homeschool families. (It is from an American point of view so when they say there are 2,000,000 home educators in Ireland that figure is closer to 2,000, all other details are good for us here)
What does my child need to know
If you're talking about your Junior infant the truth is very little.
It may be worth while for you to take a look at the national curriculum guidelines for Primary Education Here. Here you will find all you need to know about what your child would be learning in school. Be aware, this is an 80 page overview of what is expected in schools when it comes to curriculum. It is here for your reassurance that you are on the right track but we do not believe that you need to stick rigidly to it. As you progress in your homeschooling you will find that a lot of the concepts in this guide are things that you naturally do with your children anyway.
Things to remember:
It may be worth while for you to take a look at the national curriculum guidelines for Primary Education Here. Here you will find all you need to know about what your child would be learning in school. Be aware, this is an 80 page overview of what is expected in schools when it comes to curriculum. It is here for your reassurance that you are on the right track but we do not believe that you need to stick rigidly to it. As you progress in your homeschooling you will find that a lot of the concepts in this guide are things that you naturally do with your children anyway.
Things to remember:
- It takes far less time to teach children in a one to one setting.
- You do not have to use any official curriculum.
- You can decide when, how and what to teach your child.
- Network, network, network. Your children will benefit from meeting with other children in the homeschool community and you will find those who can help you along during the tough days.
Options for Secondary School
Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate
If you want your children to do the state exams then this, quote possibly, is the easiest option for you.
Paul has been very easily to deal with and is full of information.
If you do check them out, please let us know how you got on.
Paul has been very easily to deal with and is full of information.
If you do check them out, please let us know how you got on.
Registration Procedure with TUSLA
BACKGROUND
Firstly, Home schooling is completely legal in Ireland. The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 was passed into law in July 2002 & the Act provides for the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) which originally had the responsibility to ensure that each child aged six and upwards attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. That responsibility has since been transferred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
Home schooling is now officially recognised by the new legislation & the Parents constitutional right as the primary & natural educator of the child is acknowledged.
Your right to Home Educate is enshrined in Article 42 of the Irish Constitution, Bunreacht na hEireann.
Download here Article 42 in full – it’s an interesting read.
REGISTRATION PROCESS
To home-school, you must register your child with the TUSLA pursuant to Section 14 of the Act.
Firstly, write to the TUSLA, Block D, Park Gate Business Centre, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8, notifying them of your intention.
They will then forward an application form and a copy of the Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in Places Other Than Recognised Schools which is prepared and issued by the Department of Education and Science.
You must complete, sign and return the application form along with a copy of your Child's birth certificate.
On receipt of these documents, Tusla will write to you confirming same and their intention to contact you in the near future.
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
As soon as is possible you should receive notification from Tusla & subsequent contact to arrange an interview with the parents.
This is known as ‘a preliminary assessment’ & does not require children to be present.
The interview involves an assessment of:
Firstly, Home schooling is completely legal in Ireland. The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 was passed into law in July 2002 & the Act provides for the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) which originally had the responsibility to ensure that each child aged six and upwards attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. That responsibility has since been transferred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
Home schooling is now officially recognised by the new legislation & the Parents constitutional right as the primary & natural educator of the child is acknowledged.
Your right to Home Educate is enshrined in Article 42 of the Irish Constitution, Bunreacht na hEireann.
Download here Article 42 in full – it’s an interesting read.
REGISTRATION PROCESS
To home-school, you must register your child with the TUSLA pursuant to Section 14 of the Act.
Firstly, write to the TUSLA, Block D, Park Gate Business Centre, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8, notifying them of your intention.
They will then forward an application form and a copy of the Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in Places Other Than Recognised Schools which is prepared and issued by the Department of Education and Science.
You must complete, sign and return the application form along with a copy of your Child's birth certificate.
On receipt of these documents, Tusla will write to you confirming same and their intention to contact you in the near future.
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
As soon as is possible you should receive notification from Tusla & subsequent contact to arrange an interview with the parents.
This is known as ‘a preliminary assessment’ & does not require children to be present.
The interview involves an assessment of:
- The education that is being provided or proposed
- The materials used or proposed to be used
- The time spent or proposed to be spent on education.
Following the conclusion of the interview the Authorised person will discuss his/her findings with the parents.
As soon as possible the Authorised Person will prepare an assessment report which is forwarded to a reviewer within Tusla who will then make the final decision.
If it is agreed that a ‘minimum education’ is being provided, then the child’s name will be put on the Register.
After a approximately two months a report will be issued for each child & a covering letter stating that the child is, in the opinion of Tusla, receiving a ‘certain minimum education & that the child’s name has now been added to the register.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
If the ‘preliminary assessment’ is inconclusive or the child is deemed to be not receiving a ‘minimum education’, then a ‘comprehensive assessment’ will take place.
This will involve: - Entering the place where the child is being educated and observing the child receiving the education that is being provided for him/her.
- Inspecting the premises, equipment and materials used in the provision of education to the child
- Carrying out an assessment of the child with regards to his/her intellectual, emotional and physical development, including an assessment of his/her knowledge and understanding of such subjects, and proficiency in such exercises and disciplines, as the Authorised Person considers appropriate.
Following the conclusion of the comprehensive assessment, the Authorised person will discuss his/her findings with the parents.
As soon as possible following completion of the Comprehensive Assessment, a draft Assessment report will be prepared.
The report will: - Provide details of the child for whom education is being provided
- Provide details of the parent or other person providing the education
- Describe the evidence collected during the assessment and make an evaluation of the provision that exists for the child under headings such as:
- the learning environment (materials used & premises)
- the learning encounter
- provision for the child’s intellectual development (ie language skills, literacy, numeracy etc)
- physical development
- social and emotional development
- moral development
- arrangements for the monitoring and assessment of the child’s learning that are in place, if any
- provide a judgement as to whether the education being provided is a certain minimum education.
The report will be forwarded to TUSLA within twenty eight days of the assessment.
APPEALS
Under Section 15 of the Education (Welfare) Act, there is provision for an appeal to be heard by a committee appointed by the Minister for Education and Science, in respect of a decision of TUSLA.
(Click here to read ‘our experience’)
A word of Caution
As Christians we believe that we must follow the law in relation to the issue of registration. (Romans 13:1-2). However, having studied the current copy of the Irish Constitution and the Education (Welfare) Act we realise that the wording of "certain minimum education" is a vague term which is open to much interpretation. We therefore advise that you carefully consider what this means for you and your family and consider seeking independent legal advise.
To help you do this, and to help maintain the freedoms we have here in Ireland we have been working with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). HSLDA work worldwide to fight to gain and maintain rights for home school families. The cost of joining HSLDA is less than €10 per month. For that fee you get access to qualified solicitors whenever you need them. HSLDA are currently working with Irish solicitors to try and ensure that Irish homeschoolers have someone local in their time of need. For more information see the HSLDA website.
To help you do this, and to help maintain the freedoms we have here in Ireland we have been working with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). HSLDA work worldwide to fight to gain and maintain rights for home school families. The cost of joining HSLDA is less than €10 per month. For that fee you get access to qualified solicitors whenever you need them. HSLDA are currently working with Irish solicitors to try and ensure that Irish homeschoolers have someone local in their time of need. For more information see the HSLDA website.
“My schooling not only failed to teach me what it professed to be teaching, but prevented me from being educated to an extent which infuriates me when I think of all I might have learned at home by myself.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), Irish playwright and Nobel Prize winner.
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), Irish playwright and Nobel Prize winner.
