A Father’s Choice to Home Educate His Daughter with Disabilities

Clarke is providing education for his 10-year-old daughter, Dakota, at home, having grown concerned that schools were unable to adequately address her requirements. He is not alone in this decision; a BBC investigation has revealed that the number of children receiving home education in the south of England has more than doubled over the past five years. Dakota resides with her family in Portsmouth and has cerebral palsy. Her father, Clarke, indicates that this condition means her writing speed can be slower than that of other children her age. Clarke, an artist who is registered blind, stated that the decision made in February to begin teaching Dakota at home was taken to safeguard her mental wellbeing. Dakota commented, “Schools are doing something one day and a different thing another.” She added, “I don’t get rushed like I did at school. I’m more relaxed at home.” The number of children transitioning to home education saw a significant increase during the Covid pandemic and has continued its upward trend. The most recent government figures suggest that mental health is the predominant reason for this rise over the last five years. Dissatisfaction with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision has also sharply increased, according to the latest education census. Clarke mentioned that the decision to withdraw Dakota from school was a joint one made with his wife. The government mandates that children educated at home receive full-time instruction, though they are not required to follow the National Curriculum. However, Clarke, who left school at 14, asserts that his daughter is receiving the education necessary for her to thrive. He stated, “We do study English and maths but we also study things she enjoys like Japanese poetry and animation.” Dakota identified English as her favourite subject because it allows her to write about Pokemon. Clarke believes his own visual impairment has been advantageous in his teaching approach with Dakota, noting the need for continuous conversations about what she writes down. He explained, “She marks her own maths – I’ll give her the formula and she’ll check the answer with a calculator.” He added, “If she’s got it wrong, she’ll go back and talk both of us through it.” The new Labour government has committed to introducing registers for children not attending school. Currently, parents are not legally obliged to notify councils if they choose to home educate. The government stated, “Our mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity, so every pupil has the best life chances.” It continued, “That includes making sure every child is receiving a suitable education for their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs whether they are in school or at home.“We are legislating for Children Not in School registers so local authorities can better identify and support all home educated children, and reforming the SEND system so more children receive earlier and better support to thrive in education.” Due to her disability, Dakota is now unable to engage in activities such as running in the playground or playing in the park. Her father notes that playing on her VR headset provides an environment where “disability doesn’t exist.” Dakota commented, “I like playing Fortnite and because I have a headset, I can talk to my friends on there and play with them.” Clarke shared that the two things he misses most since losing his sight are the ability to read a book and observing his daughter’s growth. He stated, “The last memory I have of her facial features is from three years ago.” He added, “We have the most beautiful relationship because she knows I’m blind but that way we engage with the education together.” Readers can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.