Flexi schooling?

[wevecomeonholidaybymistake]

DS, 9, has AS. Academically he's achieving but mentally school is very hard.

He struggles so much in the environment, noise, busyness etc. He is quiet and withdrawn at school but melts down massively once home.

In the holidays he is a different child, calm and happy.

I work part time and financially can't give up my job but am looking at options and wondering about flexi schooling. I only work mornings so could pick him up at lunchtime and educate at home in the afternoon.

Is this possible? Doable? Or a stupid idea?

[printmeanicephoto]

I'm in a similar position - Although my DD is in yr 5 and I'd like to flexi-school in yr 6 due to her SEN (Dyslexia). I'd like to do something similar but prob school 3 days, home 2 days. Apparently flexi-schooling is a bit more common down south but most schools won't consider it (something to do with their attendance records and attendance codes I think). Hopefully a wise MNetter will inform us if this is possible.

[Heratnumber7]

I think you'd have to follow his teacher's lesson plans and term plans very closely, or he'd be lost at school.
Eg "Today children we're going to talk about what we learned about lions yesterday afternoon" - how would he cope on a daily basis if he's never there for the afternoons?

[Pigeonpost]

I think the issue is with the schools as others have said upthread. Would take a VERY open minded head not to be bothered about the effects on their attendance figures.

[LetitiaCropleysCookbook]

I have a friend who does this very successfully for her ds, but with an independent school. I fear that most state schools would be less able/willing to support it. Why not canvas all the schools in your area to see if any of them seem amenable in principle to flexi-schooling? It's all down to the open-mindedness, or otherwise, of the head, I suppose.

[Cupcakesandscones]

We are currently flexi-schooling and our journey started last Sept. My DC is 5 (summer born) so much younger than your own child. Our home ed is working brilliantly (x 2 days per week) but the school side of things is going pretty bad - NOT because of flexi-schooling but due to very poor (sh*t) pastoral care/support/supervision, resulting in teasing and bullying. If this doesn't improve asap we'll be looking to move schools (if possible sigh).

So to answer your original question, yes, flexi-schooling is indeed possible and I am a firm advocate in our pressure driven educational system.

[Cupcakesandscones]

P.s my DC is learning far more, and is also engaging in more crafts, at home than through school.

[Saracen]

Yes, a few years ago the DfE said they'd banned flexischooling and then issued a "clarification" saying of course that wasn't what they'd meant. However, they insist that schools must mark flexischooled children as absent on the days they aren't at school, rather than , say, "educated off-site". Now only brave and principled headteachers will take the hit to their attendance figures by allowing long-term flexischooling. It can't hurt to ask, but don't set your heart on it.

OP, are there any childcare arrangements you might manage to make other than school? Then you could do home education while continuing to work. Home education is so much more efficient than school that you will have no difficulty covering everything in a few hours a day.

If you are eligible for the childcare element of Tax Credits, it would pay a proportion of your childcare costs - I think it's up to 70% depending on your family income. So a childminder might be one option.

[wevecomeonholidaybymistake]

The Head could not be described as open minded sadly!

Don't hold much hope she'll allow it then.

Not sure about childminder etc, something else to look into thanks.