Ok I did it! I told her teacher she won't be back after the holidays. Eek!

[sorkycake]

I felt sick at the moment of approaching her reception teacher, waited for the kids to leave and said "Just wanted to let you know that 'X' won't be returning to school in January as we have decided to home educate her".
Teacher just looked at me blankly and a little stunned but said nothing, then TA stepped up and I repeated the statement to her. She replied "Oh, ok then"- (I think), I followed up with "so on Thursday could we collect all her bits and bobs as it's the last chance to do so?" Teacher replied "yes of course".
I turned and walked away and found myself grinning like a loon . Honest to god I felt about 3 stone lighter immediately, and even though I'm swinging wildly between panic and feeling elated, I know in my heart it's the right decision to make.
On the way home I told Dd that after Christmas that she wouldn't be going back to school but would be staying at home and that mummy and daddy would be teaching her. I have never seen her so elated since she saw the Wiggles! She punched both hands out and said "YES!, no more school". I was pretty surprised by that.
She whispered to Dh tonight that she had a surprise for him, that she wouldn't be going back to school after Christmas because she doesn't like doing work as it's boring and too easy, and she's much rather stay at home and play!
Sorry it's so long, but you all probably know how I'm feeling and have provided us with a lot of advice and support recently I thought I'd share the outcome with you.
Dh is panicking atm but it'll settle in the next couple of days.
Just need to get that letter typed and ready for Thursday.

[merrylissiemas]

what made you decide to HE? didn't read your prev thread.really admire the decision tho.

[KateF]

Well done sorkycake . I handed my letter in today so Wednesday is the last day for us. Here's to HE!

[NotSoSilentMhamaiNight]

I'm so not having a go and I resect your decision, sorry I didn't see the other thread btw but what will you do re your lo's social interactivity with other children?

[NotSoSilentMhamaiNight]

respect even.

[redshoes]

Good for you Sorky!

[Heartmum2Jamie]

Well done Sorky & Kate!! Ds's last day was last Thursday. We did some "school work" on Friday and he enjoyed it. It is going to take a while to get him to stop telling me that's not how they di it at school . We haven't been able to do much since then as he is full of cold as is ds2, so we are just relaxing, playing games and messing about. That's the beauty!

I wish you both luck. I am still scared, but think it has to do with the fact that we haven't settled into a routine yet.

Now, all I need are some good, snappy replies to the dreaded socialisation question

[sorkycake]

Oh God notsosilent,
That's the last thing I'm worried about!
She does Gymbobs on Mondays, Swimming on Tuesdays,
Rainbows on Fridays,
Spanish lessons on Saturday.
We are looking at Stagecoach for after the New Year as she is a diva in waiting. She turns 5 in May when she'll start music tuition, don't know the day yet.
This is aside from the Toddlers I run twice a week, in which she will be given a small official role!
She has friends in our close and those she has known since toddlers who she'll still see at either clubs or playdates, in fact I'm wondering if we'll have that much time together lol.
Ooh, and we haven't even joined up with the local Home ed/EO group either yet!
In fact, she'll probably get more out of what we already pay for as she won't be too tired doing these things predominantly after school.
Dh was a bit concerned about the social side of things, but when we thought about it, she gets 15 mins play am/pm and 30 minutes at lunch daily, outdoors. I think I'll show him this post actually as it looks like much more when you see it written down.

[sorkycake]

Can I just announce that we handed in the letter today, a copy included for the LA and a little post-it saying her last day would be Thursday!

My mum is very proud of me apparently

[KateF]

Let me see now - oh yes there's Rainbows/Brownies, tap and ballet dancing, swimming, gym club, Sunday school, friends (both local and not) of all ages not just 5 and 7. I think socialisation is covered

On another note I've been summoned to see the Head this afternoon Surely she doesn't expect me to say "Well Mrs X of course I won't do it if you don't like it, it's not as though I've spent the last 6 months thinking about it or anything!"

[EllaM]

Congratulations sorkycake, Kate and Heartmum! We just started home edding after half term. Good luck - I hope you have as much fun as we do!

[tiredemma]

Sorry- i didnt see your original posts- can I ask what made you decide to HE?

[sorkycake]

She's not the same little girl, except on weekends. She neither likes/dislikes school, reports it to be boring with not much to do. Her favourite thing about school is lunchtime. She is no further on ability wise in an entire term of attendance. She cries over tiny things more and more, never used to. Creativity is lessening the longer she stays in school. School system is crap imho.
She has been streamed into top groups but the work is still to easy for her, in fact my almost 3yo would manage it with ease. We all miss each other very much. There is more but I'm a bit rushed.

[Saturn74]

Well done, Sorkycake.
The feeling of swinging wildly between panic and elation is exactly how I felt!
Don't worry too much about planning things, just let everyone settle into it - and enjoy yourselves!
Good luck for a very happy future together.

[wrappingpaperBOwZZAndribbons]

TBH sorkycake much of what you describe sounds very normal for the first term at school. It sounds like she is finding it tiring.

[Runnerbean]

SOCIALISATION...........AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

(head banging on table)





It's great we HE as it's just no longer a problem!!!

[snowydelight]

Congratulations to all of you for making the decision - happy home edding.

[singingmum]

Well done all.
Can sympathise with feelings being up and down but it gets easier.
Socialisation is the first q asked almost everytime I mention HE and I've been at it since Ds now 12 was 3.He can hold his own in conversation with people of any age and so can my Dd6 (smugly)

[juuule]

Majorca: Absolutely.

[Hideehi]

I was told by an eductaional pyschologist that he has visited 300 senior schools in the UK and not found one he'd send his kids to.
School teaches anti social behaviour, how many people do you know that say they were fine til they got to school.

I only wish I had the guts and support.

[Hideehi]

As for the symptons being described as being normal, well yes they are in that most children experience them, doesn't make it right though does it ?

[HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas]

at majorca

shall we just all make that the MNetter HE'r answer when asked on here?

we could do in it harmony a la the lester family

[Mehetabel]

"Don't you worry that your child will miss the socialisation she would get at school?"

Hmmm - we did worry about that, so we decided that once per week we would beat her up and steal her pocket money from her, push her head down the toilet, and every now and again attack her dress sense and call her fat, and we feel that will cover it just fine

[inhindsight]

When we are asked about our He daughters "socialising" we reply

"yYah, it's a problem...don't know how we will fit it all in!!" :O

[sweetbean]

I think is amazing that you all HE and only wish that my parents had done it for me insted of spending thousands of pound every team for me to go to private school and a so call dyslexic (not even sure that how you spell it) teacher to LAUGH at me and say no no no ive told you how to spell it already you MUST TRY HARDER !!!!!!! ( i was 6)

SOCIALISATION... as for that i had my confidence bashed so much as a child that by the time i was 7 i really belived that i was stupid and slow and not as good as everyone else, so when i his pubily and put weight i was bullied terribly,which then lead to me to become anorexic/bulimic and suffering from terrible depression which lead to me self harming!

I would very serously consider HE !!!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!
sorry about the spelling