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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours homeschooled kids play out ALL day. AIBU?

266 replies

EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 19:26

Long time lurker, first time poster. Looking for a bit of advice if possible.

We live in terraced housing in a family area, so since Summer holidays started most of our neighbours kids have been out playing in their gardens during the day, which is absolutely fine, it's Summer holidays so that's to be expected. But even when the new term starts next week, the children who live next door to us will STILL be playing out.

The family moved here in March(?), they have 2 children who I assumed weren't old enough for school yet, but in a recent chat with the parents we found out they are, in fact, homeschooled.

They're out in the garden from about 10am-8pm every single day. They're not the type of children who scream and shriek, which I appreciate, but it's the constant chattering/playing noises for 10 hours every day, and not having a moments peace in my own garden (or when my windows are open, for that matter!). They have breaks in-between, which I assume is for food, but then come straight back out again. This has been ongoing since the day they moved in.

It's the fact that this is going to be an all-year round thing, not just school breaks/holidays that's bothering me. I understand they are entitled to use their garden as they please, but aren't we (and the rest of our neighbours) entitled to some peace every now and then?

We're not particularly familiar with the parents, we've only chatted with them in passing a handful of times, so my husband and I haven't raised this with them. And we don't know if this is even an issue we're entitled to raise.

If we did mention this to them, what could we say without coming across as offensive to their kids?

OP posts:
Original poster
EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 19:54

dolly12345 · 26/08/2022 19:52

WOW, calling the council? That's nuts. Unschooling is a totally valid approach to homeschool and basically involves self-directed play all day. So, enjoy.

What's wrong with simply making an inquiry? If everything is above board then there should be no problem surely?

OP posts:
Original poster
EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 19:56

Sunbun19 · 26/08/2022 19:54

How is it 'non stop' if they go in for breaks/food?

Don't report them to the council about their home schooling, that's just petty

Show quote history

It's more or less non-stop, apart from a couple of short breaks here and there.

OP posts:
Msloverlover · 26/08/2022 19:56

Is this for real? Do you hate children?

tigger1001 · 26/08/2022 19:57

"This is also what I was wondering. I wonder if a call to the council about the situation might help?"

Oh Lordy. Help what situation?

Hi council, please stop our neighbours who are homeschooling from using their garden?

Seriously??

UnboxedThoughts · 26/08/2022 19:57

Ah, so you're the type who would report neighbours during covid.

Afterfire · 26/08/2022 19:58

Home schooling doesn’t have to mean structured learning. It can literally mean anything really. Having gone through all this recently with my son aged 10 whose special needs school couldn’t meet his needs so I had him medically signed off school while we looked for a new placement I was told by the council that essentially if we wanted to keep him home long term we could do whatever we liked and didn’t have to follow any sort of specific curriculum.

You’re being a bit unfair really. I can appreciate it’s annoying but it’s not anyones problem they’ve decided to home school in this way.

NoSquirrels · 26/08/2022 19:58

If they’re not shrieking, and it’s just ‘chattering and playing’ then can’t you just tune them out? Just… ignore it and potter in your garden as you wish?

Are they supervised playing at all?

FantasylandEnthusiast · 26/08/2022 19:58

Make your enquiry, you'll look like a bitter lunatic, but crack on.

DobbyHasASock · 26/08/2022 19:58

If the children are young enough for you to assume they were too young for school then the parents will be following the eyfs curriculum.
This is very focused on developing seven skills required for learning, including gross and fine motor skills so outdoor play is a crucial part of this.
Reception classes across the country have huge outside play areas which they utilise for a lot of their learning for this reason.
Id be more worried about home schooling that agebif they sat them down with worksheets six hours a day

Kanaloa · 26/08/2022 19:59

It’s annoying to you but that’s life with neighbours. What would you do if they had children too young for school? Would you complain then? It’s their garden. Their children can play in it 24/7 if they like.

UnboxedThoughts · 26/08/2022 19:59

One wonders how you even know the children are out all day. What are you doing with your time? Maybe you need reporting by neighbours eh.

tjupiter · 26/08/2022 20:00

Simply. Move to a detached house in the middle of nowhere

They are entitled to use their garden, just as you are.

I get it, I really do. But yabu

Original poster
EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 20:00

DobbyHasASock · 26/08/2022 19:58

If the children are young enough for you to assume they were too young for school then the parents will be following the eyfs curriculum.
This is very focused on developing seven skills required for learning, including gross and fine motor skills so outdoor play is a crucial part of this.
Reception classes across the country have huge outside play areas which they utilise for a lot of their learning for this reason.
Id be more worried about home schooling that agebif they sat them down with worksheets six hours a day

The parents informed us they are 5 and 7.

OP posts:
123Callie · 26/08/2022 20:01

I’m surprised most posters think it’s absolutely fine for school aged children to spend practically their entire waking hours playing in their own garden. When are they socialising and seeing the rest of the world? It sounds like a most peculiar existence to me.

Kanaloa · 26/08/2022 20:01

I would also wonder why you’d call the council. They’re not your mum or teacher. You can’t call the council to say ‘my neighbours go in the garden, it’s annoying.’ Otherwise I’d call them and say ‘my neighbour parks on the bit of the road I like to park on.’

Original poster
EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 20:01

Kanaloa · 26/08/2022 20:01

I would also wonder why you’d call the council. They’re not your mum or teacher. You can’t call the council to say ‘my neighbours go in the garden, it’s annoying.’ Otherwise I’d call them and say ‘my neighbour parks on the bit of the road I like to park on.’

I meant express some concern about their curriculum.

OP posts:
FarmerRefuted · 26/08/2022 20:02

So EYFS which is playbased and KS1 which, while more formal, isn't exactly Oxford-standard academics.

You can't stop them using their garden and unfortunately will need to suck it up.

UnboxedThoughts · 26/08/2022 20:02

123Callie · 26/08/2022 20:01

I’m surprised most posters think it’s absolutely fine for school aged children to spend practically their entire waking hours playing in their own garden. When are they socialising and seeing the rest of the world? It sounds like a most peculiar existence to me.

I think OP has some sort of axe to grind and its unlikely these children are socially isolated in any sense.

FarmerRefuted · 26/08/2022 20:02

EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 20:01

I meant express some concern about their curriculum.

Show quote history

They're not required to follow the national curriculum

MyneighbourisTotoro · 26/08/2022 20:03

If they are new to the area it could be they are temporarily being homeschooled, it took over 6 months for a school place to open up for my children when we moved.
If not then there still nothing wrong with Theo aren’t approach, everyone homeschools differently and you don’t need to follow the curriculum.

Lilifer · 26/08/2022 20:03

FantasylandEnthusiast · 26/08/2022 19:58

Make your enquiry, you'll look like a bitter lunatic, but crack on.

This with bells on 🙌🏻

SeptemberAlexandra · 26/08/2022 20:03

You may not like it but the family are perfectly entitled to use their garden and if they are not shrieking then I can’t see an issue. Children learn through play which is why there is so much emphasis on this in the early years and precisely why you wouldn’t get far. Making a report to the council would be appalling and malicious. You have no concern regards the welfare and wellbeing of the children and want only to reduce their time in the garden. Utterly selfish.

FixItUpChappie · 26/08/2022 20:03

I see your now contemplating bullying/harassing your neighbours. It’s none of your business what they are doing. You don’t come across well.

Original poster
EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 20:04

MyneighbourisTotoro · 26/08/2022 20:03

If they are new to the area it could be they are temporarily being homeschooled, it took over 6 months for a school place to open up for my children when we moved.
If not then there still nothing wrong with Theo aren’t approach, everyone homeschools differently and you don’t need to follow the curriculum.

I was hoping this too at first. But they informed us the children are homeschooled just last week.

OP posts:
Soapboxqueen · 26/08/2022 20:04

EdwinaMonsoon · 26/08/2022 20:01

I meant express some concern about their curriculum.

Show quote history

You've got no idea about their curriculum.

You're just irritated that you can hear other humans in your near vacinity.

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