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?

Good question!

Right. So do I. But not for 10 hours a day everyday for the past 6 months and indefinitely. You can act as self-righteous as you like, but it definitely would bother you. Hearing the sound of anyone, child OR adult, for 10 hours a day would annoy any normal person. I don't believe anyone saying it wouldn't.

Home educators don't have to follow the national curriculum, they have to provide "an education" but it doesn't have to be one mandated in the NC.

And as per my earlier post, when you strip out all of the faffing about and the maneuvering involved with marshaling 30+ children around, it is very easy to condense the actual education portion of the school day into a very short period.

During lockdown my DC did the full range of school work on offer and still were only sat at thr table doing lessons for around 2-3 hours a day maximum.

Hi sorry but you are actually wrong.

Parents have no obligation to use the National curriculum at all!

She has literally no idea what education the family are providing. There are so many ways to learn other than the standard

And I was a primary school teacher before I home educated my own children!

You don't have any recourse to complain though. It's not classed as noise nuisance or antisocial, it's part and parcel of communal living so your options boil down to 1, suck it up or 2, move.

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.

When "statements" were transferring to EHCP, my local authority "lost" DS for four years. Till that point I always did the visits and annual meets because I found it easier to do so and have proof of engagement for future reference. I decided to wait and see how long before we heard from them. After four years we got the standard letter inviting us to apply for secondary as ds was leaving primary...he was 15 by then. Then there was a big flurry of trying to pretend they'd never lost him. Ridiculous carry on.

Home educators do not have to provide proof of anything. They can choose not to engage with the home checks (although as others have pointed out that appears to have been scaled back to nothing or a phone call if you're lucky)

Pretty much everything you said is wrong.

You've got two choices really.

Go round and ask if they can keep the kids indoors a bit more so you get some quiet garden time - you risk looking like an arsehole, and probably your neighbours won't be taking in any parcels for you from now on.

Or, you can just STFU, ignore them, go sit in your garden, do what you like and leave them alone.

Thats it, take your pick.

They're living their lives and doing nothing wrong so, make yourself unpopular or don't.

You could live next door to me - my dogs are in and out all day, they bark at shit going by, yell at pigeons and squirrels sometimes - if they're not out there are 10 zillion small birds whizzing around and arguing over the bird feeder which, even though its my bird feeder, gets on my tits somedays (I had a bad day earlier in summer with tooth ache and I yelled at a family of Great Tits - BIRD MOMMA, YOUR CHILDREN ARE FUCKING ANNOYING, SHUTTUP..., which worked, birds don't argue back)... I have my doors open, I listen to music, you probably wouldn't like that either.

And all of that is also normal, and not a noise nuisance. Just life.

Many people would find it annoying, but so is the traffic outside my house.

It’s not an excuse to pretend you are worried about their education and call the council, not that that would work,

Seriously buy some earplugs. The foam ones. From Boots.

If they were being super-noisy and shrieking all the time, I could see your point. But just playing and chatting is what children do. You don't have a right to absolute silence even if you would find it more comfortable.

Also, even though they are homeschooled, they may to some extent keep the same holidays as other children, and may spend more time indoors and/or on educational activities away from home after term starts. And as weather becomes more autumnal and it gets dark earlier, they will naturally reduce their time outdoors. And you will presumably have fewer open windows when it's not summertime (and an unusual heatwave).

You could use noise-cancelling headphones?

I don't know, I don't track their every movement, but with how long and how often I hear them for I can't imagine they go out very much. But I'm fully aware that's none of my business.

Not your business.
You want silence, move far far away from everyone else.

You are unbelievable OP. I had three children living next to me for years, and I loved hearing them outside and often told people how nice it was to hear them playing outside instead of being on screens all day. They swam in their pool, kicked rugby balls (sometimes hitting my fence) and climbed trees (and sometimes onto my garage roof). Admittedly they weren't home schooled, but they were outside after school - even in winter when it was dark - and all through the holidays. The family also had a dog which barked whenever I went outside. They are grown now, and the oldest one sometimes has parties with loud music. Not once have I felt the need to complain, and it certainly didn't stop me enjoying my garden.

@wherearebeefandonioncrisps - I’m pretty sure private schools and academies don’t have to follow the national curriculum. At the ages of 5 and 7, playing all day seems fine. The amount of time you need to spend in dedicated ‘learning’ is quite small with homeschooling compared to school because you can personalise what kids learn (to whatever level they are at - rather than a class of 30). Plus - some homeschoolers will have a philosophy of learning through play.

OP, are they really, really in their garden for 10+ hours a day, 7 days a week? Because that’s actually quite amazing, I wish my young children could amuse themselves for that long together outside every single day, and I bet a great many of us would love to know what their parents secret is - especially if they are just chatting and playing rather than shrieking and yelling. What are they actually doing? Playing make believe games? Sports? Climbing trees or on play equipment?

So not pretend you give a shit about their education or learning! Please.

But I'm fully aware that's none of my business.

And yet here you are

Please read the thread fully before jumping to call me names.

Don't go to the council, they will laugh at you. They are not doing any thing wrong.

Retired home educator here 🙋🏾‍♀️ Actually I do see your point OP, definitely.

I certainly think your neighbours could be more considerate. You are always aware as a home educator that those around you are not used to seeing children around at all hours. I personally would let mine play in the garden but only for a few hours at a time. I regularly took mine to parks and on outings.

I know another Home edder who had a big garden, with chickens, rabbits, and a whole playground set up (Think swings, climbing frame, slides, trampoline etc) Even she was aware of the retired pensioners next door and had her 3 children only play in late morning till late afternoon. I would visit with mine and the rule was the same.

Consideration for others is a two way street. Not that I'm necessarily believing they're outside every day bar none 24/7, as you've implied. But I understand your position. It would make me exasperated too.

Simply go and have a friendly word.

So you are happy to consider going to the council about their curriculum…before having any type of conversation with the parents about the issue.

So malicious.

I live next to a primary school. One of my greatest joys is hearing children playing, shouting and having fun. It's life enhancing. Sorry, OP I can't understand your objection at all. This is life........let's live!!!!

I don't know why people are jumping to accuse me of having malicious intentions. I said in my first post that my husband and I aren't sure if it's our place to say anything, and asked for advice on how to raise the issue with them, if possible. I didn't immediately say I'm reporting them, that's an unfair accusation.