Neighbours homeschooled kids play out ALL day. AIBU?

[EdwinaMonsoon]

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?

I presume they're not out in the rain and it rains a fair bit in the UK and Ireland.

No one has ‘checked’ us since June 2020 and that was phone call.

Why would you think that?

I love kids, have them, wouldn't change them.

Wouldn't want to hear them playing all day everyday. Everyone deserves a bit of peace and quiet.

You're not even being unreasonable, you're just being a twat.

Also, it sounds like you've tried to get as much info out of your neighbours as possible to try and find a reason to report them. Get a life.

Do you not work OP?

The curse of covid

The legal obligation on the LA is once a year but it wouldnt surprise me that children havent been seen or heard of for years now.

God, you're bloody miserable. Like many others have said- go and live rurally if you need total peace and quiet. Your neighbours are doing nothing wrong. Some folk can't see past their own nose.

I would find that sort of noise also very annoying. Its tough.

But please dont make any comments about their homeschooling style.

Simply not true. I've never been looking for a reason to report them. I suggested making an inquiry to the council after another poster made the point that they don't seem to be doing much schooling, which I agreed with.

I'm not familiar with home educating so I'll admit I didn't realise you could create your own schedule/curriculum. I understand that a council inquiry would be ridiculous now. But that's all it was, a suggestion.

I find it very hard to believe home schooled children are at home all day every day. Surely they go on days out, or even just to local playgrounds/round to friend's houses/on walks/to the supermarket/to the library?

If you live in a terraced house, in a family area, you have to expect to hear other people. I too live in a terraced house in a family area, at any given time I can hear teenagers with friends or playing football, 10 year olds on a trampoline, a baby just learning to babble and toddle about, a couple having a BBQ and friends over, people gardening, people listening to music, people laughing their heads off, the odd argument! Occasionally, as my little boy is an early riser, I may stand outside at 6am and all you can hear then is seagulls. Until the bin lorry comes, or post delivery, or some other human just living their lives. I am so grateful when I read these posts for my lovely kind neighbours who would never in a million years suggest that the noise of children chatting and playing was some kind of noise pollution. Really try and work out why this bothers you so much, because it’s very much your issue. These people could move and you may end up with another neighbour who dares to use their garden all day…

Are you at home all day?

@EdwinaMonsoon seriously! Report them for playing in their garden! Are you mad ?!

Nightmare neighbour alert! You! You're a misery aren't you dear?

Try playing some background noise. I have a couple with 2 young children who have moved next door to me. They let them and their Jack Russell into their small garden roughly 6.30 to 7am. The dog barks nearly non stop at dogs passing, which wakes us up. They spend a lot of time outside, and they all eat outside too. But I have a decent garden but I try to look at it as kids grow older quickly. In winter they will be out there less.

I’d love to know who you plan to speak to when you “call the council”. Local authorities are stretched so thin at the moment. If they even have a home education monitor, you’ll find they don’t take calls from random members of the public - in fact the only team who do in this case as Child and Family Services - are you seriously considering reporting this family to social services because children existing in their garden annoys you??

I'm sorry, but this is pure spiteful. You don't give a damn about their learning, you're doing it so that you can use your garden in silence. That would be a very nasty thing to do.

I'm guessing you're retired?

Sorry, cross posted with your last post OP - glad you’ve realised that calling the council was ridiculous.

I am glad our lovely neighbours don't complain about our children's noise. We home school and spend a lot of time outdoors. Our 4 kids don't scream or shout but sometimes I do worry about noise levals. I sometimes ask neighbours is we are too loud. A lot of our neighbours hang out outside too, as well as tiny gardens we have a shared grass green area and drying green. Sometimes we bring maths, history or copyworkbooks outside as the kids like to sit beside the guiniea pigs. We also garden, do woodwork, skate and do some art outside.

Some of our neighbours even join in with the home schooling, one stopped by to help with maths, she saw from the path my daughter was struggling with a maths topic and said, "let me help you" and came in and sat down on the step with my child. By the time I'd poured her some tea my child was very happy to have finished the task and have understood the topic much better! It was so lovely. A retired biology teacher often helps too, just as and when he decides to pop by.

Semi regularly other home schooling families visit for shared games, art or geography lessons and we can have between 6 and 14 kids in the tiny house or garden!

I think we'd possibly worse than your neighbours!

My goodness how wonderful, children playing, that's exactly what they should be doing. I absolutely love hearing all the children playing in their gardens.

I'm a bit perturbed by some of the responses on here.
All school aged children must have access to the National Curriculum.
Playing in the garden all day and every day is not acceptable.
I appreciate that it's still the summer holiday in England but homeschooling is not an excuse to let children play all day.
A dear friend of mine homeschools and must provide evidence and must adhere to certain rules.

If school aged children are not not at school , during term time and are playing in the garden for 10 hours a day then the LEA would be very interested.

A couple of places people can stay for free:

1. In your own lane
2. Out of other people’s business

They are acting legally and enjoying their property. If you don’t like hearing them - move.

At their age, playing out from 10am is absolutely fine. Homeschooling is not school. Intentionally so.

The local home ed officer can ask for an annual report. Assuming the children are old enough.

And the parents don't have to give one.

You sound like a right misery OP.

OP - I think you’re being unreasonable. Yes - you may not like the sound of them chatting - but it’s part of living in A terraced property. It’s like the constant traffic noises if you are near a road or whatever. traffic may increase over time, unanticipated. Personally I see these noises as part of living in a city/town. If people want somewhere quiet - maybe a rural location is better?