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Find advice from other parents on our Homeschool forum. You may also find our round up of the best online learning resources useful.

Home ed

Homeschoolers in Gosport

14 replies

WolfMum · 28/02/2021 15:31

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and was trying to find people that homeschool in Gosport. I'm about to take my daughter out of school (aged 8) as she has really enjoyed her time with the online learning and doesn't want to return to school, especially with this virus still going round. Her teacher has said the quality and amount of my daughters work has really improved and they are impressed and proud of her for it. We believe this is because our daughter has had more time to complete work, and it's been a lot more relaxed. Whenever she needs help, she can come and ask me, and not sit there with her hand up for the entire lesson waiting for the teacher to notice, and ultimately never have her question answered. I think teacher are simply overloaded with the amount of kids they have, and kids like mine need that 1-1 attention in order to really understand what's being taught. Our daughter is now really adamant that she wants to be homeschooled, especially at the prospect of more field trips! The only thing she's worried about is not being able to see the teachers she loves and her current friends. I've assured her that she'll be able to make new friends at the Discovery Centre once it reopens, as we're hoping they will continue their Lego Club, as well the other clubs they ran.

My question here is if there are any other homeschoolers in Gosport that might want to meet up at some point (once it's safe of course). Our daughter is very sociable and will talk anyone's ear off that she comes across!

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Saracen · 01/03/2021 05:45

I'm not in that area but I understand there are plenty of home educators there. Facebook is the best way to connect with local home ed groups. For example, you could join the FB group "Home Education Hampshire" which has over 2000 members. I think there is a Portsmouth group too - not sure about Gosport. I see there is a special group for Portsmouth-area parents who are new to home education or considering it: "Portsmouth UK Home Education Gateway"

You might even find a few activities will resume from 8 March when schools go back. Home ed groups will then be allowed to meet for educational purposes. In my area there will be outdoor activities including sports, bushcraft and drama from then, though most stuff will be on hold longer.

When it is allowed for more than two people to meet outdoors, you might meet up with another family in the park so parents can chat while the kids talk, ride bikes, or play frisbee. We love having home ed friends nearby because the kids have so much more time on their hands than schoolchildren, plus the parents often prioritise social contact. My eldest was super sociable and used to have frequent all-day playdates at that age.

Have fun!

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itsstillgood · 01/03/2021 06:00

Look up the group Home Education Fareham and Gosport on Facebook. I'm Gosport area but my boys are 18 and 15. There is a big, well established home ed community locally that thrived before Covid and I've no doubt will recover.

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WolfMum · 05/03/2021 21:40

Thank you for your replies so far! I did find the Facebook group, but I don't use Facebook for personal reasons. I was hoping to be able to connect with people outside of that. I did set up a group on the Nextdoor Neighbour app/website, made a Discord server and joined a couple of forums (including this one). We're planning on going to the Discovery Centre a lot, as I know they do quite a few clubs there. Our daughter really enjoyed the Lego club they used to run!

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itsstillgood · 06/03/2021 14:03

Could you set up a blank profile under another name for FB? Most people I know don't like it but it really does help with HE. Both in terms of connecting locally and in terms of information and support more generally.

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WolfMum · 25/03/2021 09:45

Hey, sorry for my late reply!
As far as I'm aware, you can't create a Facebook account using a fake name. You're supposed to sign up with your real name. That isn't my issue as such though. I'm just really not fond of the platform itself, and would prefer to stay as far away as possible!

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CarolNoE · 25/03/2021 09:56

@WolfMum, no knowledge myself but just sent you a PM with a possible contact, without using Facebook. Good Luck

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Beachybeau · 26/03/2021 20:52

@WolfMum we are in fareham and just setting out home Ed with our 8 yo dd xx

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WolfMum · 26/03/2021 22:46

@Beachybeau Oh, you're fairly close then! How's it going so far with the home ed, or have you not started yet?

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Beachybeau · 30/03/2021 20:24

We are just making a bit of a plan, going to pay for core subjects to be tutored or online school and also music lessons. So will look to see what other clubs there are locally that she fancies doing. So just getting started. Do you go along to much locally?

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WolfMum · 30/03/2021 21:19

@Beachybeau That sounds great in regards with the tutoring. We're thinking of doing something similar, but funds are tight, especially since we are both disabled and DWP doesn't like to do things fast when it comes to benefits... We're not doing much locally right now since a lot of places are still shut, but we're hoping to go to the clubs at the Discovery Centre once they start again. We used to go to the Lego club they did on a Saturday, which our daughter loved. I know they did a bunch of other clubs as well, such as coding and crafting, so we're looking forward to that. The only other thing we're doing right now is going to the park during school hours so it's nice and quiet, and enjoying some nice bike rides. We went up to Fareham just yesterday and had a nice time at the Tukes Avenue Park right behind Asda.
I'm still trying to find other home educators to connect with, so we can start to make some new friends once it's safer. Not using Facebook for this seems to make this near on impossible though! Maybe we'll stumble across some other home educators in the clubs though? Who knows?! Fingers crossed!

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CarolNoE · 30/03/2021 21:30

@WolfMum have a look for MakeSpace or MakerSpace. This project opened up just before lockdown down Elson way, Quay Lane industrial estate I think. The ethos seems to be a community space where people can come together to use facilities/equipment to make/craft/hobbies. The husband of the lady I mentioned is the main driver behind it.

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WolfMum · 30/03/2021 22:27

@Beachybeau I've had a quick look, but from what I've seen it seems as though the only workshops they run are for adults and those over 12. Seems a shame really, because they've got a bunch of stuff that my daughter would love to have a go at. Bit pricey for just having a go though :/

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itsstillgood · 01/04/2021 18:10

I'm sure they've done stuff for younger ones on occasion at Makerspace but not sure if they've done any open sessions or if it's just been home ed meets arranged through the local group. There is also a craft place in Fareham town centre (CraftyMakery?) that I think there were regular meets at before last lockdown.

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WolfMum · 01/04/2021 18:52

@itsstillgood I've just had a look and found the news report about them. They sound amazing, and I'd love to go and check them out once we're able to! I don't use Facebook though, so getting in touch with them is going to be a little tricky. Oh well, I'm sure my daughter isn't going to say no to a bus ride to Fareham lol.