home education

[jenny2998]

I know this has been covered before, but does anyone have any new thoughts about home education? I am considering it as an option for my son who is very bright for his age. I am concerned that he will get bored and lose interest at school as the lessons are going to be geared for the less able pupils. One concern is the issue of exams - how do you prepare a child??? And how soon am I going to be out of my depth!!

[MandyD]

I would love to do this for my son for the same reasons as you. My son's 3 next week btw. But I've presently decided against it as I just think he will miss out so much on socialising, and learning "common sense", and becoming streetwise.

There are a lot of websites about home education I believe, although I have not looked at any as yet. A solution I've heard of is that in some areas groups of like-minded parents have set up little "schools" based at home for their children. Perhaps this would be worth investigating?

[Pupuce]

Jenny 2998 - I am in the same place as MandyD.
I would like to do it but am concerned about socialising skills, etc hence if you can find other parents around, you can share the teaching amongst yourself + the kids have others to be with.

[WHIGERS]

Did anyone see the prog on channel 4 the other night about home Ed. Was brilliant and totaly inspiring. You could find out more after the prog at channel4.com/health, but just been there to see if it's still there and can't find it. Maybe you will have more luck. Was really worth seeing if it's somthing you are thinking about. The kids did not seem to be lacking in social skills at all, in fact they seemed to be confident, sensible and very happy youngsters, perfectly capable of interacting wiht other kids in there local areas. My dd is only 7months now but it's defo somthing that I would think about after having seen this prog.

[jenny2998]

I have searched the Channel 4 website with no luck. you don't happen to remember what the programme was called did you??

[jenny2998]

I have searched the Channel 4 website with no luck. you don't happen to remember what the programme was called did you??

[Roz]

If you do a search on home education using google or some such search enguine you will find a lot about home education on the net. I have a specific website address, which I temporarily cannot find, which I'll post at a later date.
We considered, and are still considering, home education for our little one who is now three and a half. We are only interested in her being part of a group so that she gets the socialisation aspect of education. In the meantime, we have been investigating Steiner education as an alternative. This seems to incorporate all the aspects of education which our own state system (and private system) seems to lack so spectacularly i.e motivation, self esteem, enthusiasm for learning etc. Sadly there are few Steiner schools around.

[Becki]

I have been home educating my 4 children since Christmas, we are having lots of fun, and getting on a whole lot better! The children are more relaxed and happy, they are motivated to do their own thing and have become less likely to follow the crowd. If you are considering this, go for it, you have nothing to lose.

[fp]

Becki - interesting to hear this in relation to the thread on state/private education! What made you decide to home educate? I don't need to think about it right now but we are considering moving abroad where it would be the only option - why do you find it so good?

[Becki]

Started thinking about home ed when the time came to find a secondary school for my eldest dd, the thought scared me silly, she was getting worked up about 11+ and sats, we decided together to home ed. eldest ds very intelligent and doing work too easy, can do work 5 years older or more! So decided to teach them both, couldn't leave youngest ds alone in school, so out she came too! I would be pleased to talk to anyone on this subject, although I consider myself a novice, but I am the expert where my children are concerned. email is [email protected]

[manky]

Is anyone going to the home education festival(HESFES)in Dorset May 11 -18? We are! You can check on their website (hesfes.co.uk?)for details