once dereg what do you start with?????

[samkearsey]

trying to get as much info together as poss to work out what will work best for my children with HEing, which websites are best for getting workbooks, text books, practical equipment etc?

i feel like i have been on line forever, but just dont know which ones are best and dont want to spend money on things not worth getting, so any advice is greatly appreciated

thanks

[Julienoshoes]

My advice?
Don't spend any money yet!


SOooooooo many of us went out and spent money on all sorts of books/equipment etc........... and years later they are still languishing on the shelves unused!

You don't say how old your children are-but the main HE websites are;

Education Otherwise

and

HE-UK

both of those websites have access to support lists and local home educators-see the other thread-how to find other home educators.

Then there is
Home Educating Children with Special Needs

and Muddle Puddle Early Years Home Ed

Home Education in the UK is a brilliant website IMHO -full of resources and information.

So many things can be found for free on the internet-certainly enough to get you started and than when you choose what it is that you all want to do-then you can start scouring charity shops and car boot sales and the library etc-all good educational activities for the things your children are interested in/the resources you have decided you need.

In the meantime, declare yourselves on holiday and go out and about to places that your children will enjoy-swimming/ice skating/for walks/ to the theatre/museums and art galleries, IF there is something on that would interest your children-for instance the National History Dinosaur exhibition and the Science musuem Discovery zones are always a winner here.

Find out what local home edders are up to-they may be doing something that is right up your street.
Just yesterday we had an afternoon with a 3 metre snake, giant hissing cockroaches/giant millipedes etc and today we are going out sailing and mountain biking. All very educational and at minimal cost.

Check out some of the books we have posted about on the other thread-you should be able to get them from the library.

Does that help?

regards Julie
Home educating in Worcestershire

[samkearsey]

thanks thats great my children are just 5, 2 and 20 weeeks!

[Julienoshoes]

Ohh how lovely!

I really really wish we had never sent our three to school.

They are 20, 18 and 15 now and I would love to be back there at the beginning of our home ed journey together-it has been such fun!
They on the other hand-say they have had a wonderful time, they are so happy to have been home educated-but their lives are great right now and they are doing what makes them happy-why would they want to go back??


As your children are so young I'd suggest that you have a look at HE Early Years yahoo support list
There are nearly 800 members there who all have been/are in the place where you are now.
I know you will get lots of support.
From the description on the home page it sounds ideal!

Also in the books on HE list, there is one by Gareth Lewis, that is a practical guide to home edding children from 0-11. That may well help.

[barksgirl]

I'm so glad I logged on, Julie, your advice is just what I needed to read. I was starting to feel a little guilty for not doing anything obviously educational. I still feel like we're skiiving..are you sure the LEA won't come knocking on the door demanding to see workbooks ...can we relax?!!

[AMumInScotland]

If they do, you can send them off with a flea in their ear! The LEA have no more right to turn up on your doorstep and demand things than anyone else ... Seriously, even if/when they do get in touch to ask how you are providing an education, you don't need to meet with them if you'd prefer not to, and can communicate in writing if you prefer. So relax and spend time with your children, and the "education" will evolve in its own way...

[AMumInScotland]

Sam, I'd second Julie's advice on not buying too much to start with - if you spend the first few weeks just enjoying your children's company you will get a feel for what interests them, and can gradually add things from there. Even if you want to use formal workbooks etc, you won't know till you start how fast your child goes through them, and whether you need just the odd one at a particular level or lots of practice on certain topics. There's no point buying a whole set of things, then finding out that they skip through that topic at lightening speed hardly using the books... Same thing with reference books - try them out from the library and see if it looks like something they'll want to come back to again and again.

[Julienoshoes]

barksgirl, I agree with AMIS-they shouldn't be knocking on your door at all.

The Government produced HE guidelines for LAs in November.
These state in section 2.7;
Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis.

and in section 3.6;
Some parents may welcome the opportunity to discuss the provision that they are making
for the child?s education during a home visit but parents are not legally required to give
the local authority access to their home. They may choose to meet a local authority
representative at a mutually convenient and neutral location instead, with or without the
child being present, or choose not to meet at all. Where a parent elects not to allow access
to their home or their child, this does not of itself constitute a ground for concern about the
education provision being made. Where local authorities are not able to visit homes, they
should, in the vast majority of cases, be able to discuss and evaluate the parents? educational
provision by alternative means. If they choose not to meet, parents may be asked to provide
evidence that they are providing a suitable education. If a local authority asks parents for
information they are under no duty to comply although it would be sensible for them to do
so. Parents might prefer, for example, to write a report, provide samples of work, have their
educational provision endorsed by a third party (such as an independent home tutor) or
provide evidence in some other appropriate.

What this confirms is that the LAs may make informal enquiries if they have reason to believe an education is not taking place.
In practice, of course they will make enquiries, and case law says we would be sensible to respond.

But the choice of how you give the LA information about the education you are providing is entirely yours.

If you prefer to have a home visit +/- show work, then that is great-as long as it is your choice.

We have been home educating for seven years now.
We have never had a home visit, the LA have never met the children, nor seen any of their work. The children have never wanted to meet with them and haven't wanted to share their work with the LA. We could think of no advantage to us of seeing the LA- so we never have.

Instead we send in an Educational Philosophy and brief report.
the LA declare themselves satisfied that we are providing a suitable and efficient education.

And in the mean time we have relaxed and enjoyed our lives together.
Happy people live in our house!

[samkearsey]

thanks for all your help, it was a big decision to make and knowing other people have been doing it for years really does help
thanks again