Home education/schooling

[babythinkpink]

I have always wanted to home school, my eldest is now 17 and has gone through the system, he has come out with countless gcse's grades c and above, and a diploma he did at college, he is now at college continuing his education, it all sounds ok but i have never been that happy with his education, the outcome was only from school knowing if they pushed the right things they could get the gcse grades, what my son actually learnt
My next 2 are school age, and both in the local school, they moved from a school i thought would be better for my son who has adhd, he really struggles with the system, i know he would learn better 1 on 1 and away from distractions.
My daughter (8) is very happy at school and loves the social aspects of it, then there are my two little ones 3yrs and 5 months, now since i had my dd (3) things have changed and i am now in a situation where i could home ed if i wanted to, and I think as we have been very child led by her she would be better educated at home, and then it would follow i would do the same for her younger sister.
I think my sticking points are just not knowing enough, I don't know how good the support is locally for home schooling, I don't know where to start with materials and what i should be teaching, There are many myths with home ed, and i would need to look into more detail into it, perhaps this thread is the kick up the bum i needed!
As for me i went badly through school, the system really let me down, came out with nothing and worked full time at 15, when i had my eldest at 21 i started an open uni degree and i have graduated now, i was going to continue in teaching but my dh had an accident and since then has been at home so i have stayed to either look after him or the children, so i decided one more baby and we have our beautiful 5 month daughter!

Final note from someone who has children go through the education system , don't think you have any say in school when your child is there, you don't!
I tried changing my daughters class once because she had been split from all her friends and the head refused, and another time the school were going to run my sons class with no teacher for 5 days, i had to say i was going to remove him from school if he didn't have a teacher, i only got what i wanted after standing my ground with the head teacher they put him in a different year group for 5 days, and this school has ofstead reports as the very best

 

[ShanandBoc]

Im really intrested in this to and would like to home educate all our children (when we have more)

I really dont know too much about it but am guessing i could incorporate excursions (zoo, museum etc) into it as well as crafts, cooking etc. And of course the actual school curriculum.

Im pretty clueless about it all but when we mentioned we might like to do it to a friend of ours he was pretty rude about it, saying we needed to expose her to all types of people good and bad and that it would be detrimental to her blah blah.

Tbh i really dont care what others think, i think its the best way of educating your children. Who is going to put as much time, passion and love into than their own parents?

The whole idea excites me, i cant wait.

 

[Hayley90]

Hi... Im Hayley, this is something im interested in. I currently work stupidly long hours, but in a few years i hope to be a part time Working mum, so i can be at home with LO a little more... Home schooling is something that interests me and after showing my OH freckleonears blog earlier on, i thought id subscribe to this to pick up some tips and ideas... hope you dont mind

 

[marley2580]

The more the merrier. Do you have any particular methods or theories in mind? Do you know about the various useful websites?

 

[Heavenx]

For those in the UK considering home educating, a useful place to start reading about it is the governement website, here's the link: https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/ChoosingASchool/DG_4016124

I had a read through of Birmingham City LEA and they have a policy and a guidance for parents who home educate. Although not overly encouraging, it doesn't come across as very discouraging either, but it is made very obvious that they want clear evidence of how you will teach your child and what you will be teaching etc.

How often does a member of the LEA visit if you home educate? Is it once a year? It didn't state exactly how many visits a year they make.

 

[marley2580]

You actually don't need any visits, but some LEAs can be supportive while others are almost abusive. In England the organisation to find out more from is Education Otherwise and in Scotland it's Schoolhouse. Remember that there are different laws in Scotland and England regarding home ed,

 

[freckleonear]

As we'll be home educating right from the start, we won't need to notify the LEA. Unless they get involved for some reason we probably won't ever have any visits. If you are de-registering a child from school then you do need to notify the LEA. Even so, you don't actually have to agree to visits, although they would like to make you think so!

When I was home educated, we had an inspector visit once a year. He would chat to my parents and me, but in the four years I was home educated he never once looked at any of my work.

 

[sophxx]

does anyone know where i can find a local homeschool group in my area ive tryed google but i must not be searching the right thing as nothing is comeing up x

 

[marley2580]

Where are you? Normally your best bet is to contact an organisation such as Education Otherwise as they often know of local groups

 

[sophxx]

im on the lancashire yorkshire boarder x

 

[marley2580]

There's a home ed website with loads of people from all over the uk - www.home-education.biz

Someone there might be able to help, otherwise look on the education otherwise webpage as they have a section on local groups

 

[silver_penny]

I have two boys (so far!) and plan on homeschooling them. I was homeschooled for four years myself, and DH was completely homeschooled. I am looking into possible unschooling, as it seems to be the best fit for my style of parenting (child-led)

 

[OmiOmen]

I was not at all happy with my education and have had issues about what to do when DS is of school age. I briefly thought of privet/public school but I am not sure it is a viable option cost wise and I know people who went to them and said it is just not worth the money anyway. I have always considered home-schooling but DH was not sure however he has slowly come around to the idea and now genuinely agrees that he thinks we could provide a better education this way. We would be semi-structured in teaching but not fully set times and stick close but not exactly to the primary school curriculum and stick to the curriculum for secondary school but with more depth hopefully. We would plan on starting education in a semi-structured environment at around 3 not 5 though. We intended to go to museums and take educational holidays/brakes anyway so we would stuck to that too and he would have tuition for a musical instrument of his choice and a sport/physical activity. We also would want to tell our LEA and would like (hopefully positive) advice from them.

I know I will get some hassle from family and friends about it but we get it anyway already from BF'ing past 6 months, being a veggie family, co-sleeping and letting him do things in his own time when it is before the age he is expected to be doing it. People know I have had an issue with the idea of traditional schools so I doubt it woill be a huge surprise.

I know it may seem early to start planning too much but I have a few questions....
*What are the home-schooling meets like?
*Does the LEA's that give hassle tend to just be un-supportive to all people home-schooling or is it the unschooling method they dislike in particular?
*If you are going with the curriculum at GCES leavle then how easy is it to get the coursework/exams done to get the official grade?
*Are A-level's also an option for home schooling?
*What if the child learns quick, can they do GCSE's/A-levels before the regular age?
*DH works nights and looks after DS in the day while I am at Uni at the moment and the hope is he will have (a different and better) job also on nights when DS will be learning and I guess I will be working days. We manage with us both looking after him now and I guess it would be the same but with lessons in the future. Does that sound like it is possible?

 

[lynnikins]

I was not at all happy with my education and have had issues about what to do when DS is of school age. I briefly thought of privet/public school but I am not sure it is a viable option cost wise and I know people who went to them and said it is just not worth the money anyway. I have always considered home-schooling but DH was not sure however he has slowly come around to the idea and now genuinely agrees that he thinks we could provide a better education this way. We would be semi-structured in teaching but not fully set times and stick close but not exactly to the primary school curriculum and stick to the curriculum for secondary school but with more depth hopefully. We would plan on starting education in a semi-structured environment at around 3 not 5 though. We intended to go to museums and take educational holidays/brakes anyway so we would stuck to that too and he would have tuition for a musical instrument of his choice and a sport/physical activity. We also would want to tell our LEA and would like (hopefully positive) advice from them.

I know I will get some hassle from family and friends about it but we get it anyway already from BF'ing past 6 months, being a veggie family, co-sleeping and letting him do things in his own time when it is before the age he is expected to be doing it. People know I have had an issue with the idea of traditional schools so I doubt it woill be a huge surprise.

I know it may seem early to start planning too much but I have a few questions....
*What are the home-schooling meets like?
*Does the LEA's that give hassle tend to just be un-supportive to all people home-schooling or is it the unschooling method they dislike in particular?
*If you are going with the curriculum at GCES leavle then how easy is it to get the coursework/exams done to get the official grade?
*Are A-level's also an option for home schooling?
*What if the child learns quick, can they do GCSE's/A-levels before the regular age?
*DH works nights and looks after DS in the day while I am at Uni at the moment and the hope is he will have (a different and better) job also on nights when DS will be learning and I guess I will be working days. We manage with us both looking after him now and I guess it would be the same but with lessons in the future. Does that sound like it is possible?

Hey i cant answer all your questions, but i can try, i know locally the homeschooling meets are very friendly the kids have craft days, sports days, swiming lessons and ice skating lessons as well as various music lessons
The LEA's depending where you are can be a right PITA others can be ok,
i believe you just call up the local school and book and pay for the gcse and a level exams although im not sure about coursework, have you considered using the IB syllabus as its more internationally accredited than GCSE/Alevels.
You should be able to work at your childs speed, when my parents initially took me out of school i completed the next 6 months work in 6wks and the school couldnt provide my parents with the materials that far in advance so my parents had to use a different syllabus for me
also as long as you and your DH work together to map out your lessons etc... and comunicate then it shouldnt be a problem who is doing the childcare/teaching both my parents shared in our education mum doing most of the hard work but dad doing most of the marking and setting of new work

 

[OmiOmen]

I had never heard of IB qualifications, we will be looking into that. We want to make sure that he can apply to a university with out any problems which is one reason for sticking close to (but not exactly to) the national curriculum however we also want to make sure he can study at that level and is prepared for it which I do not think that schools offer.

I know it all seems like long way off but we want to be ready to really teach him well and have a rough idea of the options available for secondary education.

 

[freckleonear]

*What are the home-schooling meets like? I go to two different meets. The big meet is for children of all ages and is 3 hours long. There is usually a craft activity and sports for the older children, as well as plenty of time for the children to play, socialise or get on with their work. Sometimes there are music or language groups going on. They also organise lectures, seminars and outings outside of the main meeting time. The smaller meet is just a few local mums with children of similar ages who meet up in the park. We do a little group activity and the children have time to play.

*Does the LEA's that give hassle tend to just be un-supportive to all people home-schooling or is it the unschooling method they dislike in particular?
Not really sure about this one, my LEA was always very supportive. I can imagine that they would be more likely to have a problem with unschooling though.

*If you are going with the curriculum at GCES leavle then how easy is it to get the coursework/exams done to get the official grade?
To take exams you will need to find a centre willing to take external candidates (not all schools or colleges are willing) and pay them. Coursework is a bit more complicated as you have to research all the regulations and hire a tutor to mark the coursework.

*Are A-level's also an option for home schooling?
Definitely, I skipped my GCSEs and did A levels at home instead.

*What if the child learns quick, can they do GCSE's/A-levels before the regular age?
Definitely, the advantage of this is that they can take a few each year rather than doing them all in one go.

*DH works nights and looks after DS in the day while I am at Uni at the moment and the hope is he will have (a different and better) job also on nights when DS will be learning and I guess I will be working days. We manage with us both looking after him now and I guess it would be the same but with lessons in the future. Does that sound like it is possible?
Sounds fine to me. My mum worked part time while she was homeschooling me. As you have one-on-one tuition and no badly behaved children, you can accomplish much more in a shorter time than would be possible at school.

 

[freckleonear]

Wanted to share this fantastic maths website I just came across. It lists all the different skills that would be taught each year from Reception to Year 9. There are interactive practice exercises you can do and the website will track your score and the questions get harder as you improve. https://uk.ixl.com/

 

[OmiOmen]

Thank you, this is all really helpful and it is pointing us in a direction that is making DH excited and pro-homeschooling too. Although it is too early to do much about it yet I have found a group fairly local and the meets seems like such a fantastic idea. Between this and reading up a bit more (now that DH is for it) I have actually realised that we were heading down this road without realising it right from the toys we pick to how we spend time together. I think we may try and go for only having a-levels as the official qualifications but stick close but expand on the national curriculum before that. It is still early days but I want to start small so that DS just thinks learning is normal and there is not this sudden moment between 3-5 when we say now you have to do this (if that makes sense?).

 

[s4m4nth4]

Many of you have said it's very early to be thinking about home ed.....not at all! I started thinking about it when I was preg with my first, and I was fresh out of school, did well at school, but knew that there must be another, better way for kids to spend there childhoods!
I used to go to home ed meetings....I found it essential in the early, un-confident unsure days...but only go very rarely now, as I have made a network of local home ed friends, so we meet up whenever we want/ need to!
I found I was quite pushy with my first, as I had a point to prove, that she would read without going to school ( so many people don't have faith in home ed!) SO, she learnt to read, and has completely got it, and is now reading novels faster that I can buy them! I found I have really backed off with the rest, and I am completely child led....Esmay, lost her first tooth a few weeks ago, and interestingly, since it was wobbly, she has been soooo interested in reading and writing, and is doing it so much, by herself. (steiner says kids are ready to read and write when they loose their teeth.....it works!)Kids DO want to learn, I have learnt to have faith, that they will learn things when they are ready.
Our day is made up of no routine(or so I thought, a friend who came to stop for a week said she was really impressed with my routine! so it must have just evolved!) The kids wake up, have breakfast, play, wash/dress, play, then the rest usally happens at some point.... maybe go on the net for a bit....Aurora does mathletics.......Es and Roo do cbeebies, and Reading eggs. They colour, draw, write, paint, make cards, do felting, fiinger knitting, play with everything! (the girls can play for hours with sylvanians, and toy dogs!) the boys play cars more, and do lots of running about, fighting, moving!) At some point every day we have dance time (usually black eyed peas lol...they are amazing kids, and do flips, cartwheels, handstands, and loads of amazing natural moves, I haven't taught them!) Bake.....I love baking with them, and it gives us a nice supply of cakes and biscuits, they also help cook meals if they want, they help wash and tidy.....we have guinea pigs, so they look after and cuddle them at some point. We are very very lucky....and have 5 acres of woodland, its about a 15 min drive away. We go about 3/4 times a week, and feed our chickens, play in the woods, make bridges, build walls, fairy houses, dens, plant things, play on the trampoline,have picnics etc.
Es goes to rainbows, flamenco and ballet. Aurora Goes to brownies, has ballet, and ballet exam class.They both do trampolining class too! I take the boys to the skate park while girls are at trampolining. We have a zoo pass....so spend time at the zoo often. We again....are very lucky, and live maybe 300m from fistal beach in newquay! So go to the beach often. We visit friends, and friends visit us. We go swimming at the hotel up the road...a friend helps me. Its awesome having the pool to ourselves, and letting the kids learn at there own pace! My husband works most days( self employed plasterer) So I am lucky enough to be in the position to be able to spend all my time with the kids. We have the freedom to do what we want, when we want. Most of the time I love it. I don't see the point of having kids, and sending them to spend their time with someone else, where they are told what time to eat, drink, pee, write, read, breath! I had children, they are mine, and I want to watch them learn and grow, and see all the amazing things they do.

I'm going through a bit of a low patch at the moment. So this has really helped me to write down these things....I didn't realise we did so much!

 

[freckleonear]

Many of you have said it's very early to be thinking about home ed.....not at all! I started thinking about it when I was preg with my first, and I was fresh out of school, did well at school, but knew that there must be another, better way for kids to spend there childhoods!
I used to go to home ed meetings....I found it essential in the early, un-confident unsure days...but only go very rarely now, as I have made a network of local home ed friends, so we meet up whenever we want/ need to!
I found I was quite pushy with my first, as I had a point to prove, that she would read without going to school ( so many people don't have faith in home ed!) SO, she learnt to read, and has completely got it, and is now reading novels faster that I can buy them! I found I have really backed off with the rest, and I am completely child led....Esmay, lost her first tooth a few weeks ago, and interestingly, since it was wobbly, she has been soooo interested in reading and writing, and is doing it so much, by herself. (steiner says kids are ready to read and write when they loose their teeth.....it works!)Kids DO want to learn, I have learnt to have faith, that they will learn things when they are ready.
Our day is made up of no routine(or so I thought, a friend who came to stop for a week said she was really impressed with my routine! so it must have just evolved!) The kids wake up, have breakfast, play, wash/dress, play, then the rest usally happens at some point.... maybe go on the net for a bit....Aurora does mathletics.......Es and Roo do cbeebies, and Reading eggs. They colour, draw, write, paint, make cards, do felting, fiinger knitting, play with everything! (the girls can play for hours with sylvanians, and toy dogs!) the boys play cars more, and do lots of running about, fighting, moving!) At some point every day we have dance time (usually black eyed peas lol...they are amazing kids, and do flips, cartwheels, handstands, and loads of amazing natural moves, I haven't taught them!) Bake.....I love baking with them, and it gives us a nice supply of cakes and biscuits, they also help cook meals if they want, they help wash and tidy.....we have guinea pigs, so they look after and cuddle them at some point. We are very very lucky....and have 5 acres of woodland, its about a 15 min drive away. We go about 3/4 times a week, and feed our chickens, play in the woods, make bridges, build walls, fairy houses, dens, plant things, play on the trampoline,have picnics etc.
Es goes to rainbows, flamenco and ballet. Aurora Goes to brownies, has ballet, and ballet exam class.They both do trampolining class too! I take the boys to the skate park while girls are at trampolining. We have a zoo pass....so spend time at the zoo often. We again....are very lucky, and live maybe 300m from fistal beach in newquay! So go to the beach often. We visit friends, and friends visit us. We go swimming at the hotel up the road...a friend helps me. Its awesome having the pool to ourselves, and letting the kids learn at there own pace! My husband works most days( self employed plasterer) So I am lucky enough to be in the position to be able to spend all my time with the kids. We have the freedom to do what we want, when we want. Most of the time I love it. I don't see the point of having kids, and sending them to spend their time with someone else, where they are told what time to eat, drink, pee, write, read, breath! I had children, they are mine, and I want to watch them learn and grow, and see all the amazing things they do.

I'm going through a bit of a low patch at the moment. So this has really helped me to write down these things....I didn't realise we did so much!

Thanks for sharing that. It sounds like your children have a wonderful time living and learning at the same time.