When and how did you inform people about your decision to home educate

[yoyo1234]

I want to home educate my child (not at nursery or school) and I am worried about how to inform family and more importantly authorities (especially looking at the thread where the headteacher seems quite authoritarian/scary about a child even going flexi time).

[ommmward]

If your child is not currently registered in a school, then you don't need to inform anyone official at all. Just keep doing what you are doing. It's only once people are IN the system that they have to inform the school (and therefore the LA) that they want out.

For family, I strongly recommend NOT saying "we're going to home educate, schools are all terrible blah blah". Instead, say "ah, (s)he's not really ready for school just yet. We're going to home educate for the first year, and will probably put her into school a bit later on when she's more ready to benefit from it. There's an amazing home school community around here, we can join in with XYZ." After a year or two, it will become clear to people that you have no intention of putting her/him in school (assuming that's the case) but by then it's a fait accompli, and you can point to how well (s)he's doing outside school, so it's harder for people to try to undermine you!

:)

[yoyo1234]

Thank you that is really good advice (learnt from experience I gather?). I just want to give DS2 an extra 2-3 years with more attention and learning at his own rate and in his own style. DS1 has been schooled traditionally (now at secondary) and has always been emotionally young and could do with being a bit more confident (so I guess I hope that 1-2-1 with Mummy may help DS2 build confidence and find his voice). Interestingly my best friend at secondary school and DS1's best friend was (mainly)home educated to secondary. Obviously we will join lots of groups and clubs.

[gillybeanz]

I was surprised at how little objection we received, mostly positive from family and friends, some we thought would be negative were totally on board and offered help in certain areas.
I really wouldn't bother about a huge announcement or anything, just tell folks as the conversation arises.

Good luck

[Saracen]

I agree with ommmward and gillybeanz!

Additionally, I'd delay the discussion as long as reasonably possible. If you say that you will be home educating your toddler, some people will interpret that as a request for their input on the decision. Most people have limited knowledge of home education but will still feel free to give you their thoughts on it.

On the other hand, the longer you have been home educating the more likely it is that people will recognise that you have made a firm decision and know what you are doing. If you mention that you've been HEing your teen for ten years already, few people will be so rude as to say doubtfully, "but isn't that bad for their social skills?"

Have you been along to any local home education groups yet? I'd suggest checking them out now, even if it's just an occasional or one-off visit. You'll feel reassured when you meet lots of other families who are home educating. It's interesting to see some of the ways people tackle it, especially with children slightly older than yours. You and your child might be able to make some friendships which will potentially see you through for a good few years. (My eldest was a bit lonely for a while when all her toddler group friends went off to nursery and lost interest in meeting up with us.) In discussions with critical acquaintances, I also found it very useful to have met many HE kids so I could refer to their experiences, for example, "You say that HE children won't have enough sporting opportunities, but the HE children I've met don't seem to have a problem with that. In fact, one girl who is competing in gymnastics at a national level says it's much easier to do that now she has left school and has more time and energy to train."