Letter to school head teacher

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

i'm going to be home schooling my children after the summer break and i have just been trying to word out a letter to send to the school head teacher and would like some opinions on it if you don't mind
tia.

Dear Mr H,
I am writing to inform you that my children Chloe Wright (class 8), Cameron Wright (class 4) and Caitlin Wright (R2) will not be attending Beechwood anymore after the summer break as i have decided after much time and research that at home learning is the best option for us a family.
I have read that i do not need to contact the LEA but you as the head teacher will need to do this.
Please feel free to contact me should you want anymore information thanks

Rebecca Fisher.

[2xy]

If it were me, I would eliminate the part about your kids not attending their school anymore. It makes the letter sound negative.

I would say:

"I am writing to inform you that my children Chloe Wright (class 8), Cameron Wright (class 4) and Caitlin Wright (R2) will be continuing their education at home next school year."

Also, are homeschoolers so few and far between in your area that you think the teacher wouldn't know s/he has to contact the LEA?

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Originally Posted by 2xy

If it were me, I would eliminate the part about your kids not attending their school anymore. It makes the letter sound negative.

I would say:

"I am writing to inform you that my children Chloe Wright (class 8), Cameron Wright (class 4) and Caitlin Wright (R2) will be continuing their education at home next school year."

Also, are homeschoolers so few and far between in your area that you think the teacher wouldn't know s/he has to contact the LEA?

Thanks yes that does look better.

i'm not sure to be honest, i don't know anyone who homeschool's at all though thats not to say there aren't any homeschooler's in my area just that i don't know any.
do you think i should leave that bit off about contacting the LEA ?

[2xy]

I don't know anything about homeschooling in England. I know that in the USA, people who work in schools can become unpleasant when parents try to direct their work or give them information that they should already know. And unpleasant school staff can = a difficult start to homeschooling if they feel like making trouble for you.

[littlest birds]

FWIW I have always had 100% supportive comments from the various school personel involved with our children. We currently have two at school and two at home. Pulled out ds halfway through last year. Oldest DD was in and out of school a couple of times. All teachers involved have always said it was a good idea. I had ds's art teacher come up to me and tell me how glad she was and how much better she thought it would be for him.

(There are quite a few homeschoolers in our town and the school is small and has a positive overall atmosphere so both are a factor.)

I agree about not commenting on what the teacher needs to do as far as contacting the LEA. I would probably skip that and just make sure you do whatever else is required of you on your own.

[2xy]

Originally Posted by littlest birds

FWIW I have always had 100% supportive comments from the various school personel involved with our children.

Did you try to tell them how to do their jobs?

I see no reason to prematurely assume that the head teacher doesn't know what needs to be done. I find it annoying and offensive when someone treats me like that when I'm at work.

People whom you annoy and offend are not as likely to be supportive.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

I'm not trying to annoy or offend anyone this is why i put the letter here first so i knew what to put. i'll keep off the bit about the LEA thanks.

[lach]

Since you're going for a fairly formal business letter with a form-letter feel (basically crossing your ts and dotting your is) I don't think it's rude to include her role in this. If homeschoolers are few and far between, she might appreciate the direction. And it's more likely that she'll hand the letter off to an assistant of some sort who may or may not know what to do.

I would say something like: According to my research, it is the school's responsibility to contact the LEA about our status as home schoolers. If I am incorrect in this assumption, or if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

That, to me, gets the point across politely. And they're gonna contact you if they have questions whether you offer or not (and IMO the chances of them actually doing that are slim) so it seems polite to offer.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Thanks that does look good also but i am worried about what 2xy said about being annoying and offensive i don't want to any of those things i'm just a bit worried incase the head teacher doesn't know it's him that has to contact the LEA because he is still quite new in the job as head teacher at the school, but i could be totally wrong in my thinking, should i phone the school and see if i can speak to the head teacher as well as writing the letter?

[lach]

Originally Posted by beckyand3littlemonsters

Thanks that does look good also but i am worried about what 2xy said about being annoying and offensive i don't want to any of those things i'm just a bit worried incase the head teacher doesn't know it's him that has to contact the LEA because he is still quite new in the job as head teacher at the school, but i could be totally wrong in my thinking, should i phone the school and see if i can speak to the head teacher as well as writing the letter?

I think that 2xy's advice here was off base. You covering your bases in a form letter is not telling her how to do her job. I think it would be irresponsible not to include it, as it's obviously very important information.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by beckyand3littlemonsters

Thanks that does look good also but i am worried about what 2xy said about being annoying and offensive i don't want to any of those things i'm just a bit worried incase the head teacher doesn't know it's him that has to contact the LEA because he is still quite new in the job as head teacher at the school, but i could be totally wrong in my thinking, should i phone the school and see if i can speak to the head teacher as well as writing the letter?

I think if you worded it politely as PP stated then it would be fine. I am all about making sure my butt is covered. I don't think I would just assume something would be done if there was apossibility that it would screw me over if it wasn't.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Thanks for the input how does this look?

Dear Mr H,
I am writing to inform you that my children Chloe Wright (class 8), Cameron Wright (class 4) and Caitlin Wright (R2) will be continuing their education at home next school year.
The LEA will need to be informed of this and according to my research, it is the school's responsibility to contact the LEA about our status as home schoolers. If I am incorrect in this assumption, or if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank You
Rebecca Fisher

The bolded bit is my slight change should i leave it in or take it out?

[2xy]

Originally Posted by beckyand3littlemonsters

Thanks for the input how does this look?

I think that letter looks great!

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Originally Posted by 2xy

I think that letter looks great!

Thanks i'll get it printed out and take it to the school before the break up for the summer.

[animallover]

Just fill out a "letter of intent" form. You can download and print from web. Try OFTP and search for form, I think it may under the legal section but not sure.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

is this what you mean http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/letter-of-intent.shtml as this i all i could find that was related to homeschool when i searched OFTP.
Is that an American site as it mentions grades not years? also that form seems very long when i searched homeschooling it just said to write a letter to the head teacher stating that my children will schooled at home from now on, the form has question regarding wheat curriculum, subjects and materials you'll be using i didn't know i had to give this much info.

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by beckyand3littlemonsters

is this what you mean http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/letter-of-intent.shtml as this i all i could find that was related to homeschool when i searched OFTP.
Is that an American site as it mentions grades not years? also that form seems very long when i searched homeschooling it just said to write a letter to the head teacher stating that my children will schooled at home from now on, the form has question regarding wheat curriculum, subjects and materials you'll be using i didn't know i had to give this much info.

Is in an Ontario, Canada site. It is a great site.

Just as an FYI in case any Ontario parents are lurking, the intent to HS letter is great for Ontarions (but perhaps not applicable to someone in England, lol) The comments above regarding curriculum, subjects and materials are on a separate "sample form" for how to respond if an investigation is launched (extremely unlikely). OFTP has put all the sample forms together, and I could easily see how the OP thought they were one instead of a bunch of separate forms. All that is needed for Ontario is the intent to HS, and it is only required if you are withdrawing your kids from school or the school board asks for it.

OP, I think your revised letter looks great! Welcome to HSing!

Kathy