Finding the Flex

Supporting schools and families in co-creating flexible educational solutions. Reducing pressure and improving wellbeing for children and teachers.

[HuxleyHead @headhuxley]

@FlexFamiliesUK @findingtheflex

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

We're ensuring schools meet minimum standards of best practice and developing pragmatic flexischooling policies that make all kinds of sense for children, families and education professionals https://t.co/Rexr5hOhmu. We'd love to tell @Ofstednews all about how it's done ;)

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Flexischooling is a positive and proactive way of keeping children on roll and in sight, when they might otherwise be de-registered entirely. Happier children = happier families and school staff = a better option than 'reluctant de-registrations' https://t.co/tHQj0GXurp /5

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Rich qualitative data from families suggests flexischooling improves school attendance.
The balance it provides some children often negates the need for additional resource in school, as social and emotional needs are better met /4

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Flexischooling strengthens inclusion with proven benefits for many children with a SEND profile https://t.co/yVZeZTdggu Comprehensive research on this in 2022 pointed out it could be the 'game changer' we need to enable all children to enjoy their school years /3

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Headteachers who agree to flexischooling arrangements have a clear rationale, track attendance carefully and regularly review plans to ensure they are in the best interests of children. Example here https://t.co/cPu41nDnyu /2

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

I’d be absolutely delighted to see the DfE introduce an attendance code for flexischooling.
But the worries Martyn Oliver has outlined today are unfounded. Flexischooling isn't jeopardising children's education, it's enabling many of them to keep accessing one 👇

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

We've started compiling a library of Finding the Flex Parent/Carer Voices. Time and again families tell us that flexischooling improves educational engagement, school attendance and overall happiness 👇@NotFineinSchool @teamsquarepeg @ChildrensComm @bphillipsonMP @75ThunderRoad

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

➡ schools retain full funding for all flexischooled pupils and should record a C code in the register (which will be seen by the DfE, LA, Ofsted in the context of each school's flexischooling rationale)

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

➡ the decision to agree to a fs/ arrangement is always at the discretion of the school’s headteacher
➡ f/s arrangements are bespoke, child centred, co-created between families and schools & subject to regular review
➡ f/s children receive a full time education

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Here’s the top level, need to know information:

➡ the DfE position on flexischooling is outlined in the April 2019 Elective Home Education guidance
➡ parents/carers can request a f/s arrangement at any time and for any child

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Correspondingly, we are seeing greater curiosity from headteachers, minded to agree to f/s arrangements when it is evident a hybrid schooling arrangement COULD  lead to better long term educational wellbeing and engagement for a child.

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Increasingly, families are asking us about f/s arrangements when their child has a history of unhappiness or anxiety around school and/or is already in a state of distress at the prospect of returning.

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Mostly, parents and carers want to know if they can ask for it and headteachers want to know if they can say yes.

🌟 In both cases the answer is a resounding YES 🌟

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Over 530 schools currently offer flexischooling in one form or another and the interest and demand is growing.

As the new school year approaches, Finding the Flex is receiving enquiries from across the country about how to make it happen.

👇

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Please share widely with secondary SENDCOs, heads, HoY and pastoral teams who possibly don't know this is an available option @teamsquarepeg @NotFineinSchool @75ThunderRoad @BenDavis1972 @martinimarie @sendcogirl @DrTinarae @DrJerricah
@sendagenda https://t.co/Rexr5hOhmu

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

🌟 Parents/carers, who know their children best, can work WITH school staff on positive and pre-emptive flexischooling arrangements that improve things for all concerned
🌟 Demands on school staff are reduced when the social and emotional needs of children are better met /5

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

🌟 Children who find the school environment overwhelming, are more likely to cope and to develop consistent patterns of attendance
🌟 Children who feel anxious about the change, or those at risk of EBSNA, can have a better balance of home and school /4

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

Enabling some children to transition to a new school or year group on a flexischooling timetable, has the potential to greatly improve their chances of accessing a full time education* for the long term.
*100% education is not always the same thing as 100% school attendance /3

[Sarah Sudea @sarahsudea]

At Finding the Flex, we've been receiving a steady stream of messages from parents/carers, predicting challenges for their children in September. Often these are children with a SEND profile and their families know flexischooling makes for a more manageable school week /2