Anyone else considering long term home ed?

[Beebityboo]

Even with the low risk to children generally (although my 5yo is vulnerable with an over reactive immune system and I also am disabled so don't want to take my chances) I can imagine that school is going to be quite unsettling and generally not a very happy place to be for the foreseeable future. My youngest has complex needs and still needs a lot of comforting and support at school and she just won't cope in the conditions her school have laid out going forwards.

Originally I had planned to send all of them back in September but am now contemplating deregistering them and homeschooling longer term (I have some experience of this as I had to remove my eldest last year due to severe bullying, but it was a temporary arrangement)

Am I mad to be considering this? We're also supposed to be moving to new county this summer so would likely need to make a decision then about whether to apply for schools or not (even if schools are taking in new admissions at that point).

I'm trying to weigh up the pros and cons of this decision. I don't think school is going to be anything like what it was for quite a while, probably next year at the earliest .

No way!!

I have considered it, yes. I have one DC who would love it I think but I’m not sure if it would be the best thing for them. They have special needs and actually school seems to (largely) help with this.

The other one is raring to go back to school, couldn’t keep them off if I tried!

Started homeschooling my eldest in Jan while DD went to school, year 2. We were we really getting into the swing of things before lockdown so it’ll be nice when we can do meet ups again. I’ll probably end up deregistering DD as well, she’s not missing school at all.

Yes, my son is 5 and is shielded. He gets ill very often from school as it is. I'm definitely going to be home educating for the next couple of years.

I am just beginning to consider this for my youngest (dd aged 9). She really struggles with maths and writing and ideally needs lots of extra help, which isn't really possible at school. It's really helped her having me available to ask questions and explain things to her any time. I think she often sits at school feeling miserable because she doesn't understand what she's doing. Also I have been quite unimpressed by a lot of the work set by the school over lockdown.

The problem is I work full time, although I am self employed and can work flexibly. I wouldn't attempt to teach secondary though.

I would seriously like to but I need to go back to work. I have surprised myself how much I have enjoyed this time with her. But I know I need to be back at work and she needs her friends.

@Beebityboo the council certainly should not give you hassle and to be fair I’ve found that it’s been quite the opposite. One initial letter then one visit (but we could easily have rejected the visit, it was totally optional). The visit was actually useful, the lady was very supportive and had some good contacts. At the very most they can only send a letter once a year.

To those concerned about socialisation, I’ve found that you have to be careful not to over-socialise! There are so many groups and activities you have to be selective about what you go to otherwise you’re never at home! My kids still socialise with their old school friends plus their new home Ed friends. They definitely have a wider social group now.

I may possibly consider it. We've signed up with myonlineschooling (DD1 in Y10 and DD2 in Y5) and it's pretty good, but still a lot of work for me. DD2 wants me to sit with her during online lessons and help with opening various word docs, pdfs and stuff. And I need to keep on top of when homework is due. DD1 is not as independent as I hoped, is dyslexic, easily confused and has a tendency to do the bare minimum. On the positive side, I can see where the gaps in her knowledge are in a way that I couldn't before as she would refuse to talk about schoolwork. Overall, a steep learning curve for all of us.

I think we'll all end up homeschooling whether we'd like to or not.

This virus is going to be with us for a long time - we'll be part time schooling and stopping and starting for some time, I reckon.

I've mentally prepared myself to be doing this long term.

Does anyone have any home school online recommendations? For KS1.

I used education city when I was homeschooling Ds (years ago now, he’s 18) which was amazing. Contacted them again and they are only working with schools now, not home educators.

Yes it's flashed across my mind.. In normal life there are so many opportunities to socialise the dc... From home ed.

It's not going to be that same social experience. But sometimes that isn't good if the school isn't supportive.

Children with needs would get amazing 1:1 support. In the conjunction I think doing lots of clubs, classes would be vital to keep social stuff going. Fitting in, being in new place etc.

My dd is tricky to work with though.
I imagine if I could catch her up on the basics she's missed in class, then perhaps when she's older she could go back but I work so it's jot feasible

Pontypridd very true.

They won't learn at the same pace, with the new measures.

School is not the best environment for many SEN kids, I've educated my children at home now for nearly 3 years. Best decision I've ever made.

Does anyone have any home school online recommendations? For KS1.

Have you looked at Twinkl, I'm finding their resources the best at the moment, for both ages of my DC (EYFS & KS2)

Definitely!

My son has complex SN, I have been fighting for appropriate education for him for the last 7 years. Turns out I learnt some stuff along the way.

He has learned more with me during lockdown then he has in the last year at school...they couldn't even keep him in the classroom so really I couldn't be doing much worse. As for the social side, he's really isolated and has no friends anyway. There are home ed groups around here that would suit him down to the ground.

It would be an incredible sacrifice but I'd be a fool to take permanent home ed off the table. It's been an absolute revelation.

It’s a difficult one. I feel as though I could successfully homeschool both of my children separately but together I spend the majority of the time dealing with constant arguing and bickering.

No, I need to go back to work and my DC desperately need their friends and interaction from someone that isn't me

All the "school is the best place for children" stuff from the government, for me, has been an absolute joke.

Absolutely 100% totally no, never.

I can absolutely no advantage to it whatsoever for NT kids. However I do see where it might have its place for Children with SEN

No. Life must go on, we can’t live like this forever.

No, definitely not to permanently home educating. Firstly dh and I have to work and we couldn’t work if we had to educate the dc. Secondly, we are heavily reliant on school sending stuff through for the dc to complete and if we home educated that option would also be removed. It wouldn’t be practical for us at all.