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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I try homeschooling or unschooling?

53 replies

WavyRavey · 14/05/2025 18:09

Does anyone homeschool?

Since going back from the last half term my sons behaviour has really changed, he had such a good year and now everything is going backwards

I don't know if it's hormones kicking in at 7 nearly 8, he's got so much rage and its so hard to calm it down, when he is at home he is mostly fine, school is making it worse. This holiday was fine some little tantrums but going back to school he's totally changed. He throws things, has hit out at other kids and is currently only in from 9 til lunchtime

He has all the coping things but forgets them or they don't work, doesn't like headphones, doesn't like the loop earphones, has brain breaks often cos he can't sit still, even at home he is outside most of the time biking up and down, climbing, scootering! We are up the park every single day of the week for hours so he can get some energy out

He has not been diagnosed though everyone knows he is on the spectrum, as he was in an assessment room with 2 adults he was totally fine!

I am unable to drive so I worry if we try homeschooling he will be bored, as much as he'd like to be gaming or up the park all day he has to learn too, ideally it'd be small trips and things but I can't travel super far. I'm so worried he's going to end up behind everyone else, he was full time but is back down to leaving at midday again.

Does anyone have any advice? I feel like an absolute failure, after everyone being so proud of how far he's come 😭 would it be unreasonable to homeschool? I asked him how he felt and he said "maybe but not forever"

OP posts:
perpetualplatespinning · 15/05/2025 10:07

Personally, I wouldn’t EHE. I would pursue more support via the EHCP (whether that is at school or otherwise than at school). A good EHCP can include far more support than the vast majority of parents can afford to fund themselves.

Have you requested an early review of DS’s EHCP? What support, including therapies, is in there at the moment, and is it being provided?

Why is DS on a part-time timetable? Is it because the school won’t allow him to stay all day? If that’s the case, is it formal suspensions? Or is it because you think DS can’t attend full-time? Have you requested alternative provision for the time DS is not in school?

WavyRavey · 15/05/2025 12:11

Thankfully he was okay today so hopefully it carries on, thank you for all the advice everyone

OP posts:
Sadworld23 · 15/05/2025 21:10

RatHole · 14/05/2025 21:47

With respect, I am an average parent, no teaching experience. I’ve home educated/unschooled my two now adult autistic sons. Both now work full time, have some amazing skills that they wouldn’t have had if they’d been in school. We didn’t do any typical school subjects, but focused on life skills and employable skills. Many of their peers from school are hugely floundering as young adults, despite (or because?) being in school until A levels.

The sad thing is that UK schools are now so geared up against SN that children are failing in their thousands, it’s so distressing to see, when sometimes coming out of school and taking a different approach can make such a huge difference to the child and their family.

Yes, and it's costing LEAs a fortune in special schooling instead of changing the approach to education..

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