Part-time Learning Communities: Impact Survey
This is a survey exploring the impact that part-time learning communities have on children and young people, as an alternative or addition to mainstream schooling.
Your feedback is invaluable and could make a real difference to the future of these provisions. It should take 5-10 minutes to complete.
Who is this survey for?
Please take part if you are a founder, staff member, volunteer or parent/carer at any of the following types of ‘out of school’ providers in the UK, where children/young people aged 5+ can attend for six hours or more per week, between the hours of 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday:
Drop-off home ed provisions;
Home ed meet-ups (or co-ops) where parents/carers stay;
Alternative Provision (AP);
Forest school/outdoor learning/nature-based provisions;
Democratic/self-directed learning communities;
Montessori/Steiner/Reggio Emilia provisions;
Tutor groups for specific subjects or Project-Based Learning (PBL);
Clubs where young people can pursue interests/passions/hobbies or play/socialise.
Why are we doing this survey?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was announced in December 2024 and has direct implications for part-time education provisions in England and Wales, which offer something different to mainstream schooling.
We want to show the impact that these provisions make, so that key stakeholders in the House of Commons and the House of Lords can make informed decisions.
What will the data be used for?
The next step in the parliamentary process is for the debate around the Bill to be continued in the House of Lords. Following this, discussions will ‘ping-pong’ between the House of Lords and the House of Commons, to finalise the Bill amendments.
The impact of the Bill’s proposals will be considered, so we intend to share the findings* of this survey with Lords and MPs to make sure they have a fuller understanding of the Bill’s implications. Survey participants’ responses will be confidential.
* While we are inviting survey participants from anywhere in the world (because for our wider research, the findings will be invaluable), we will only submit data from England/Wales to influence the direction of the Bill.
Who are we?
This survey has been created by Jo Symes, founder and director of Progressive Education, and Alex O’Neill from Limitless. Together we run the Education Start-Ups membership for those setting up and running their own schools and learning communities, across the UK and internationally.
We only need one response per learning setting. Please collaborate with colleagues or nominate one person to answer the survey.
What impact, if any, has your learning community had on the young people who attend in the following areas?
Mental Health and Community
Life Skills and Academics
Personal Development
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently stipulates that out-of-school education providers may be obligated to provide personal information to the local authority about young people attending their provision, such as their name, date of birth, address, and number of hours of education provided.
The Bill also proposes to give the local authority the power to decide what constitutes a suitable education.
Given this:
What impact, if any, has the part-time learning community your child(ren) attend had on them in the following areas?
(If you haven't noticed an impact or aren't sure select "Unsure")
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently stipulates that out-of-school education providers may be obligated to provide personal information to the local authority about young people attending their provision, such as their name, date of birth, address, and number of hours education provided.
If you have answered yes to any of the options above, please leave your name and email address below.
