Considering HE for 5 year old in year 1!

[Domple]

DS is in year 1 and my impression (from what he tells me) is that he does not really enjoy school.

He is very interested in the outside world: travel, wildlife, how things work but struggles with school in that it requires him to sit and focus and not be allowed to play.

Academically he (probably like most five year olds) finds it difficult to concentrate for more than 10 min segments so I could see how school would crush him.

He struggled with the transition to year 1 and actually was moved down a table ( he has subsequently moved up) as his teacher was unsure how he was doing as she would set work and then find he had not done it. When I asked what he was like if she asked him stuff she said he new answers. He is not an extrovert ( in a queue he will always let others go first!) but he is very astute and observant about other kids in his class.

I think he is a clever little boy but that he is too young for the formalised way we teach in schools. I told him once he could be taught at home and ever since then he has asked if I would teach him. He talked about it this morning again (with his older sister) and he is adamant. His older sister was disgusted at the prospect (she is more 'academic' eager to please and fits well in to the system).

My gut tells me he would suit something else but I suppose I am nervous about taking the leap!

[EauRouge]

It is nerve-wracking; not because it's difficult (it isn't!) but because it's going against the flow. We are conditioned that school is the only way so anything else must be wrong. HE can work so much better for some children.

My eldest is also 5yo, although she would be in reception. I think school would be awful for her so we HE from the outset.

We do all kinds of things; normal stuff like going to shops, the park or for a bike ride. Day trips to museums or nature reserves. She's just started ballet and Rainbows. She does very little 'work', but she loves her activity books. We keep a scrapbook of some of the things she's done. Her reading and writing is improving, but at her pace. Some days she'll read and write for ages, other days she just wants to draw. The advantage of HE is that she can do all this at her own pace.

A lot of people think HE is very intensive, sitting at the kitchen table all day writing and doing maths, but it doesn't have to be like that at all (especially at this age).

Are there any local HE groups near you? Facebook is a really good place to find other HE families, I've found a lot that way.

You know your DS best, if you think this sort of education would suit him better then it's worth exploring. It doesn't have to be forever, you can always re-register for school at a later date.

[Domple]

Thanks Eaurouge I have also been a person to go against the flow tbh!

I feel it would be better for him but it is just trying to 'persuade' my DH who is much more traditional.

I agree that it does not seem complicated. When I have looked at what is expected from the National Curriculum I can see how I could achieve a similar thing at home but in a much less 'one size fits all' approach.

The most important thing is he is keen to learn at the moment I do not want that crushed by school!!!!

[EauRouge]

Absolutely! I think it's so important to encourage a love of learning at this age rather than forcing them to learn certain things. DD1 loves discovering things for herself and then showing me as if she's the first person ever to find it out- it's so cute

[bebanjo]

Hi, my DD is 7 and has never been to school. We subscribed to reading eggs in November and she does 20 of each in a morning, that is as far as we have got with structure/ lessons.
The rest of the time we just live, if I see something and I think it is interesting I will tell her sometimes she is interested other times not.
Her passions are, biology( as a home edder she can cut up harts, lungs fish ect in the kitchin)
Chemistry ( as a home edder she can do as many experiments as she likes as long as I can get the stuff)
Crafts( think wet felting, junk modelling clay ect)
Story's on cd(Shakespeare, king Arthur, Norse gods)
Minecraft ( it happens to the best of us)
Playing with freinds ect.
HTH.

[Domple]

Thanks for your replies.

I have a lot to think about.

DS very upset again today with going to school. He tells me he finds it distracting and also the tests seem to be causing him anxiety.

Thanks again

[EauRouge]

Tests for a 5 year old?! Poor thing, no wonder he's stressed.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Domple I am in a very similar position. DS2 has SN, and is in the wrong year imo. We are embroiled in trying to get him entered in the Reception class of school in the area we are moving to but if we fail I am seriously considering Home Ed.

He's socially isolated, despite being a very sociable and affectionate boy and struggles massively to concentrate. He doesn't mind the formal learning side, in fact he quite enjoys it but can't focus with the teacher pupil ratio in the class. He hates the 'testing' and levels side of it all as well.

It's causing your DS some anxiety obviously, but poor you too. Knowing you have the option to Home Ed must be a comfort!

[morethanpotatoprints]

Hello OP

I found that once I had facts and had done some research my dh started to become more interested. He finally decided it was worth considering when I came up with a pro and con sheet.
Obviously the pro's out numbered the cons for us, but the pros were what really mattered to dd iyswim.
Eventually we talked it over with dd as we felt it had to be her decision, completely different circs to you, in that she was happy at school.

We have never looked back and have found so many more pros having experienced HE.

One of the best things which I feel would benefit your ds is that we have no bells, end of lesson and if she is immersed in something she can continue for as long as she likes, often exploring more than is required from the NC in that topic. Freedom of choice is amazing.

[Domple]

Thanks for posts and your positive experiences.

Another week has started and DS still not happy at school, he needs me for reassurance and seems so much less confident than he was before Christmas. It has not helped that he has had a little cold.

Really struggling with this at the moment TBH.

[Nataleejah]

That is the reason why in many other countries children don't start formal education until the age 7