To consider homeschooling long term?

[BateKush2020]

I have two DC- one has always been happy in school so this is really about the eldest, age 9. He’s pretty much always disliked school, often hated it with brief times of liking it (he has mild/moderate SEN). Since the schools closed I have noticed a marked improvement in his behaviour, mood and general attitude to life. He’s happier, more upbeat and more talkative.

Out of nowhere today he said he would like to be homeschooled for the rest of his life... practically we could make it work as we work from home most of the time. But I’m aware it could be so different long term... WIBU to seriously consider it?

Of course you're not unreasonable. I think a LOT of parents will decide the same.

Have you seen the MN home education section?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/home_ed

I wondering the same for my 9 year old. Not quite so clear cut but she finds school difficult socially and learns very little because she just doesn't try to engage with it. She has expressed an interest in this continuing post-COVID.

There is a family who flexi-schools is who go to the same school so I might try to persuade the head to go for that.

Sounds like it would be worth exploring if he is so much happier. Talk to other parents who 'properly' homeschool - how do they plan their weeks, what do they cover, what support is available locally, what happens about GCSEs etc. I think most of us at the moment aren't really home-schooling - we're supervising/facilitating school at home which isn't quite the same.

The other thing is whether you are employed. I know you said that you both work from home but whilst most employers are being fairly reasonable at the moment knowing that people are trying to work and look after children I wouldn't expect my team to be working while homeschooling on a permanent basis.

If I was your employer I wouldn't be impressed.

Agree it's going to be more common. My leaders said the same and I just couldn't make it work as it's just me here.

However... is it possible to homeschool and WFH? I know are all trying to do it now but In normal times is it possible. Depends on role and hours of course thought in my line of work, I would be really ambivalent about a member of my team wfh and having any child at home on a permanent basis.

My leaders = eldest

Get in touch with your local home schooling group. They tend tobe very well organised and kids sometimes go t different home school households if the parent has certain knowledge or if a tutor is brought in.
Speaking to people that do it in your area will help you decide on the practicalities.

Thanks for the replies - to clarify our work is self employed and flexible so we already take turns working and homeschooling... it doesn’t leave much time for anything else though!

Thanks Pipandmum - my understanding is that the home education community around here is massive (loads of groups etc normally), which would help I’d imagine

Working from home full time while homeschooling isn't really sustainable. What's your job? Can you do it outside of "school hours"?

Is there a partner around to cover the time after school before bedtime?

How would you feel about your time with your son being mostly schoolwork?

Is there any part of you that would be sad about the social side he’d miss out on? No school trips or assembly’s or fetes. I love those memories from my school days

Well there is nothing unreasonable about considering it, if it works for your family why not try it for longer. I believe the home schooling network in most places is very good. Personally I could not do it (and that is with one SEN child who to be fair loves being off school but his school work is really suffering) and can't wait for schools to go back but each to their own.

Why would it be unreasonable? Go for it. home ed was the best decision we ever made :) If you type in 'Home Education' and your local authority area on facebook search you should find your local group :)

It most certainly IS possible to home educate a child and WFH. People really need to educate themselves or at least try to open their minds before making such blanket judgements. The amount of learning one parent can cover with one, two or three children can be covered in so much less time than the same amount of learning in a school setting when you have 1 Teacher to 30 kids.There are are pros and cons. Just like there is with school. This situation is a good time to explore whether it could work for many families but this isolation schooling is not the same as home ed. Home educated children are currently missing their friends, their groups and their other activities just as schooled children are.

For anyone considering HE, Facebook groups are MUCH better for advice than MN. MN seem to be generally anti HE as its 'not the norm'. There are dozens of groups on FB. I suggest joining Home Education UK first and having a good read and ask lots of questions. You will get tons of support and advice.

There is no set way to home ed. That is one of the biggest joys of it. You can be super structured or completely autonomous, everything in between or a mixture depending on each child. Your child's personality, nature and learning process will gradually dictate how your home ed journey will go and this can grow and change as your child grows older and starts to find out more and more who they are and where their strengths lie.

There are hundreds of resources nowadays. Everything you could wish to learn about it accessible online. HE is a different ball game to how it would have been 20-30 years ago and it's popularity is soaring. Not all children are the same and they all learn and thrive in different ways and in different environments. Some children thrive in school, some simply do not. You can't force a square peg into a round hole. HTH OP.

Do your research thoroughly.

I’ve been home educating for years and have no regrets at all! I say go for it.

I think that it would be great for you and great for him.

Children learn so much more 1-1 or computer - 1.

Then 1 to 30. Yes there are great homeschooling groups online.

Only fools - why would they miss out on school trips and fetes? Our home Ed network does all these things. My daughter has been in nativity, had sports day, countless one off workshops, days out, home Ed fair, Christmas fair, party’s etc.

I think there will be many, happier children out there right now.
YANBU.

I had already been considering it for ds from year 7 (he is currently year 5) and this has made me more sure that when we can do it properly it will be the right choice for him.

Just remember a lot of the things available now may not be once schools go back, or you may have to pay for them.

Also the novelty may wear off. Also if you home ed one, and the other one goes back to school, will either of them resent what the other one is doing?

Oh well it's a good job that you're not then isn't it @Witchcraftandhokum

That’s really helpful @Chickpeace - and others. Many thanks. Will definitely check out Facebook.

Well if you're self-employed and really want to do it then go for it.

Personally I'm against home schooling, but that's an opinion based on professional experience and one I know I will get savaged for on here.