to ask if you would consider home education?

[SundayBea]

Have read a lot of articles recently on how the numbers in home education have 'exploded' and it's on the rise by 80% a year apparently. I know of three families I think quite highly of, two of whom are ex-teachers whose children have never been to school and their children seem to be having an exceptional upbringing and education with so many fantastic experiences and opportunities. Also know of two other families who have withdrawn their children from school because of problems with their respective schools and I'm less certain of how successful it is going to be for them. Also know of several colleagues and DH's cousin who have DC under 5 who are debating not registering them when the time comes. Is this a big thing now or is it just coincidence I know of so many families like this? I was just wondering what the general consensus was.. when I mentioned socialisation one of my ex-teacher friends showed me the Facebook group she is in for her local home education community and I was amazed at the plethora of groups, classes, meet ups and outings with hundreds of members.. just for her local county! Have been debating with DP what to do about schooling at private school is unfortunately out of the question on our current salaries.. I'm now feeling like I've discovered a whole new option I hadn't considered? Sorry if this is rambling, only getting a 5 minute lunch break today!

When we adopted I knew at the back of my mind that if my children couldn't cope with school I would consider home schooling. Luckily I didn't need to, but have done a lot of home-tutoring.

I perceive HS as falling into 3 camps

• ideology, quite often ex-teachers
• can't be bothered, less hassle to pretend to home school than engage with school, attendance etc.
• can't cope with mainstream due to SEN, bullying or otherwise

I think there is also a 4th group in the US, so possibly here also

• isolationists - don't want their children to mix with 'wrong' sort or be taught a wide curriculum. Usually these in the US seem to be fundamentalist religion people

We Home Ed one of our children and it's my preferred option for the others (one at school who doesn't want to leave at present and two below school age). I have too many problems with the education system as it is. I believe that the social interaction Home Ed children get is broader and better than school type social interaction.

Exam results are not my main concern but I know many Home Ed teens who have done very well academically. Plenty of children are failed by the school system in academic terms, going to school is no guarantee.

I like the more natural way of learning and the freedom to go at the child's pace. I also want to be involved and have more family time than the school system allows.

I know several home educating parents who work. Either both part time or using childcare. I will consider part time work in the future.

Absolutely not. I enjoy my job too much and believe that children learn better from people who are trained professionals, much in the same way that I leave other jobs to professionals rather than trying to do them myself. School (for me) is about mixing with a wide range of people, learning in an environment which supports their academic development more than I could, and giving them a wider life outside of me, DH. and the home.

Unless there were major, serious SEN/bullying/MH issues then nope.

I would and have considered it. But whether I would be any good at it I don't know. I know as a family we would have lots of fun but I struggle with lazyness and I am not sure that is a good combination. The cost is also off putting. I know it was mentioned further up the thread about needing one person as a SAHP but we have friends who home school and the amount they spend on all their activities is phenomenal and puts it firmly out of our grasp.
But I still like the idea because when I read about what home schoolers actually do it sounds a lot like the things we do when the school holidays are on.

I do admire anyone who can spend 24/7 with their offspring and not go loopy.

I HEd DS2 when it became apparent that the school placement had completely broken down. Taught in a corridor, slagged off by other children's parents, it just wasn't worth it.

We loved it. From being a school refuser, he became an enthusiastic learner. His social life improved immeasurably, as did his social skills. I got to know him so well and our bond was massively strengthened.

We had no choice but to send him to school in the end, the country we were stationed in says that HE is illegal. So we spent a few months looking for the perfect place for him, and in the end he chose a boarding school in the UK.

When I removed him from school, he was working at P levels while in Yr4. When he returned to formal schooling he was working 2 levels higher than expected.

It's not for everyone though.

I am beginning to consider it for my DC. I am not convinced that full time school is essential nor the best thing for 4/5 years old and my local catchment school isn't great. But my concern is by delaying formal schooling my DC will have problems joining in a few years time and I have no intention of homeschooling until they are 16/18.

100% NO unless I had to due to illness.
I was home educated for a period in my teens due to illness (I had cancer). In grades I did well in most areas, parents both very able acedemic types teaching me plus home tutor 2 hours per day. But socially it was a disaster the friends at school and the daily interaction with other children the same age is vital and its never the same in out of school clubs etc. school is much much more than just learning subjects. Take it from someone who was home educated and on paper I may look great ( 10 GCSEs despite having chemo etc) I still struggle socially, I was back in school for A levels and it was hell trying to fit in, I was the strange home Ed kid who had appeared at exams. it was only going to uni and being unknown which allowed me to fit in and make real friends. I love seeing my children enjoy school and make friends and learn to interact with all children as children should.

I would have done until age 7 or so. But my husband left and work was more important.
The education of children at schools isn't great. Particularly the age (up to 7-9) where they're still very comfortable in small scale / family environments. As it happens my children enjoyed school from day one. But when i meet with children where 7+ education is the norm they are much more self assured / confident AND social than british school products. (Mine included)

Janeymoo, just because that child was home schooled that is not re presentive of home schooled children. Do you think that there are no disruptive children at school who have trouble engaging? Surely it's because that child has an SEN and not because he's home schooled. We all have our own personalities and he was taken out of school as it didn't work for him and didn't fit his personality. School is not best for everyone, there are other ways to educate other than school. My friend's son has always been home educated, went to college to do his A levels and has got all his university choices including Oxford, he is very chatty, confident and social able , another friend's son has been in school all his childhood, passed 4 GCSe's and no A levels and doesn't even grunt at you , he hates socialising or conversation, has no interest in anything other than playing on line , now I think this is because of personalities and other factors not because he went to school, just the same as the other way around.
Having a foot in both camps I can see the advantages of both and it's finding the right fit for the right child. If they are happy then they will learn.

nellyflora's parents made the best of a bad situation. Her parents did not choose to home educate. They home educated so that Nelly did not have to make the choice between staying alive and getting an education. I think that its hard to prevent any child on chemotheraphy being socially isolated.

There is a little boy at my daughter's school who is been treated to leumenkia at Great Ormond Stree and he has not been to school for months. I just pray that one day he is well enough to lead a happy life.

I would not choose to home educate. I would struggle to get my children to do any work. I want to have fun with my children rather than making them learn English.

I HE'd DC1 for a year when he was 7 due to the circumstances of where we lived and we weren't happy with the school he was attending. We moved and he returned to school. I have considered HE again very recently, mainly because of all the changes in the education system, lack of teachers, etc but DC4 has just started reception and both he and DC3 (8) are happy at their village school.

However, we are getting a new Head in September so I am keeping my options open. When I did it 12 years ago there weren't as many resources available and we were quite isolated. I know there are more groups where we live now and more sites/resources to use so I would be happy to do it if it comes to it. DC2 is in secondary and just about to start her GCSE's so I'm not sure with her, we talked about it and she was keen but I think she would miss her friends and the structure school gives.

I home schooled my DS from year 4 to year 6. One thing we found is that you can have a good social life as there was lots of stuff going on. However, it became very expensive. It's not just the cost of the groups themselves but the travelling costs to get to them. It is a costly business running a car these days.

I would do it only if I absolutely had to, because I don't believe it would be good for me or the children. They're not naturally sociable and so would then withdraw from other people and find it much harder to adjust to the real world. I also think they need the input from others to pace themselves and do better as a result.

I know a few families that do. Some I would say are very successful, some, you think it would actually be better for both sides if they went to school. In the latter ones it's totally the parents choice.

^No
I can't imagine how I would find the time to prep stuff to then spend the following day educating them.^

But that's what all teachers do, teach all day and then go home and prep in the evening for the next day. Also it's harder when you've got 30 kids to differentiate for and 30 books to mark Instead of just your own DC. If we could afford it I'd quit teaching to home school.

No, for so many reasons. There are huge social advantages to going to school. I cant believe any child taught by me would pass an exam.

If the school wasn't meeting their needs and I couldn't find one that would then definitely. I would pay for tutors though. I would also keep actively searching for a school environment that would suit them.

Absolutely 100% not unless there is absolutely no other viable alternative and then only as a matter of total desperation. Not only do I not think its the right thing for almost all children, I can't think of anything worse than being with my children 27/4.

No because a) I have to work and b) it would end up being such a battle.

DS would manage some work but dd refuses to do even normal homework so I'd have no chance of getting her to put pen to paper.

being with my children 27/4.

Which planet are you on?

No.

I would not have the confidence in myself to be able to educate DS properly. It's bad enough doing his homework

I did it for a while with two out of three of my dcs

I did it because of deep disaffection with the school

after a couple of years they went back to (another) school, their choice (mostly around social aspects- although we spent loads of time out, the HE Friend Pool was quite small)

can't tell you how brilliant it was. With a bit of will you'd be amazed at what you can manage. Even if you have no teaching experience. I'd say the simple fact of having attention from an adult every time they ask for it is invaluable for a kid. We loosely followed the then national curriculum (that's very loosely) because it was always the intention that they'd go back to school one way and another- by the time they plopped back in, they were well able to keep up with their classmates (although some teachers were totally dicombobulated by the concept of HE initially)

my only regret in any of this was from my own pov- I'd been taking steps to start a new career and the HE put the kybosh on that rather

Yes, I pulled my DS out of school nearly a year ago. He has additional needs that weren't being met at school and was becoming more and more distressed. He loves HE and its the best thing for him. He doesn't miss out on socialising as he attends groups. This is better suited to him as the groups are smaller and voluntary so he can leave early or miss one if he's having a bad day.

No, lots of reasons why.

I work and have a career I enjoy.

Ds is outgoing and loves being around other children and adults.

I think most children benefit from the social aspects of school - learning how to interact well with others and speak to a group etc.

I think teachers have trained hard to teach and I don't feel qualified.

Ds takes educational instruction far better from people he doesn't see all the time. He just wouldn't take educational direction from me - the separation between home and school is what makes him ready to learn.

If he had any special needs I'd consider it and a friend of mine does it for her dd having tried several schools that were unable to cater for her specific needs.

But in any other situation, no way, not ever. I take my hat off to people who teach.

re social stuff- fwiw the dc I had who went all the way through school is a lot more shy and anxious around people than the ones who did HE

(I know this is anecdotal but there's a lot of it about on this thread so I thought I'd put in my two bob)

Yes. I do home educate one of my childreN. DS has high functioning autism amongst other conditions and has gone from a non verbal, attacking everyone and everything in sight, self harming child to one who the average person on meeting him cannot see any issues whatsoever. They're surprised when I tell them. For about two years he was lost to us. Now he is happy, confident, making friends and can hold his own in social situations with a bunch of kids who completely accept him as he is. Home Educated children much more accepting of difference in my experience.

We don't actually do that much academic work at home as it got to the point where I would try to teach him and he would say "yeah I know Mum!" and reel it all off to me . He's 12. The only thing we do is Maths, an hour a day and English a couple of times a week. The rest of the time he does workshops and organised groups. He does judo, football, indoor climbing, swimming and two other general social groups weekly, all with other home educated children. The argument about socialisation is irrelevant for us, we could be "socialising" every minute of the day if we wanted to be. We actually have to turn things down. My son is achieving things I was categorically told he never would.

To a parent thinking of home educating I would say "you CAN do it. All you need is broadband and a library membership". Because it's true.