Isobel,
The best advice I've seen so far on this subject was two-fold. The first part of the answer - and I wish I could remember where I saw this! - was that the curriculum is not the same as the educational experience mentioned in the law, nor is it the same as an education program (e.g. the Quebec Education Program, or QEP - see this page for links to specific modules of the QEP.)
Education program/educational experience deal with a child's intellectual & social development in broad strokes: they focus on learning objectives for any given year (e.g. two hours of physical activity per week, education in two of the four arts, learning place value to the thousands, attempting to express oneself in French, being able to discuss one's literary preferences, etc.) Curriculum is more specific, and deals with the details of what tools (e.g. textbooks, specific methods for teaching a given subject - like Singapore Math) you will use to help your child achieve the learning objectives. Things like lesson plans and specific reading assignments fall under curriculum.
The law says that your children must enjoy an educational experience equivalent to what they would receive at a public school, and this experience is what the school board is charged with evaluating - not your curriculum. In other words, they don't need to see all the detailed lesson plans to do their job.
The second prong of the advice comes courtesy of Pierre Compagna, of AQED. He says that you basically have three choices when assuring the school board that your child is not in a state of educational neglect (the thing they accuse when they report homeschooling families to the YP): 1) You can say that you are following the QEP; 2) you can give them the name of another education program that you are following (e.g. the prescribed program of another province, an online school or distance learning program, a program such as Montessori or Waldorf or Ambleside Online); 3) you can outline your educational program (what subjects you plan to cover, goals for each subject area for the current year, etc.) If you have a child who requires adaptations for whatever reason, be sure to mention this.
If I understood correctly, if you are using the QEP as your education program that's all you have to say. End of story. If you are using another program the board may find that it isn't equivalent, so you would want to draw the parallels for them rather than trying to say what you are going to teach, when & how. Focus on the learning objectives, not the specific content.
It might help to mention the names of a few texts or reference books (even better if you list some texts approved by the government or used/recommended by the school or board!) If you want you can list projected field trips/socialization opportunities, sports, group classes, etc., though it may be enough just to mention that a number of activities are planned to enrich the educational experience.
They may choose to approve or disapprove of your program but even if they don't approve, the government expects them to work with you to bring your education program up to their standards (i.e. so that your kids can re-enter public school at any time with few or no adaptations.) You aren't automatically stuck between returning your kids to school or being referred to the YP if they don't approve, despite the way they make you feel.
If you haven't already signed a contract, stop and think about it! Read the contract they're offering you, because the LBPSB contract (& some others too) essentially says the board is in complete charge of everything.
They dictate when, how & how often your children will be evaluated (and this is NOT laid out in the contract, so they can come up with almost any kind of demands on this.) They grant or deny permission to homeschool. And you must return your children to school anytime the board demands it - because they have a problem with your education plan, with their assessment of your ability to deliver the equivalent educational experience, or with your child's progress. Failing to cooperate or to return the child to school when they demand it does mean a referral to the YP for educational neglect.
Many people refuse to sign the contract. It isn't required by law; it's just their policy. If you feel safer signing a document to show good faith, consider drafting your own agreement with the help of a lawyer. You an get a free/inexpensive consult through the Bar Association or Legal Aid. It shouldn't take more than an hour or so to have a document drawn up. In my opinion, the board would look foolish if they refused to sign a reasonable contract prepared by a lawyer. Letting them know you have legal representation also gives them the sign that you are aware of your rights, and you won't allow them to be violated.
Other good advice was already posted by Wendi, I think: keep your notifications simple & don't give your motives, details of your own education, etc. Just say you are opting to homeschool as is your right under the law. Nowhere does the law say you're only allowed to homeschool if the board approves of your reasons for withdrawing your children from public school! Nowhere does it specify a required level of education for the homeschooling parent. The board does not need this information.
As Wendi said, keep everything to written communication. Don't make appointments to see them unless you've run out of all other options, and then be sure to take an advocate with you. Don't talk to them on the phone. Be polite, but let them know firmly that phone calls disrupt your homeschooling.
Letters are a more efficient way to send and receive information: you'll be sure to have all the necessary contact information, you won't forget to take note of something important, you'll have any dates or specific requirements at your fingertips when you review the document. And you are unlikely to misunderstand what the letter says. Especially with a house full of kids, it's quite easy to hear someone wrong or to misinterpret something said over the phone. Anybody who has legitimate business with you should be able to see why a letter is preferable to a phone call.
Hang in there! You aren't alone :)
Ruby