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Home ed

Find advice from other parents on our Homeschool forum. You may also find our round up of the best online learning resources useful.

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Original poster

Working and HE

14 replies

AngelDog · 04/02/2011 22:55

We're in the early stages of thinking about HE (DS is only 13 months) but we're keen to try it for as long as we can afford it. That's the issue - whether I can stay at home or get suitable part time work.

If you/your OH work & HE, what do you do and when do you do it?

DH is training to be a Christian minister which will probably mean low pay, long hours and lots of evenings working, so my options for working will probably be limited. It would be useful to know what sort of things other people do.

TIA

OP posts:

Tinuviel · 05/02/2011 12:35

DH does compressed hours (5 days work in 4) so is at home 1 day a week. I work 2 days a week so am home 3 days. We have a nanny comes in for the remaining day. She supervises while they finish their work; does baking/sewing with DS2 and DD; keeps an eye on DS1 while he cooks tea and irons their clothes/bedding. I had to manage without her for half a term recently and I appreciate her 10 times more now!! (And I already did really appreciate her!)

So working works for us!

Original poster

AngelDog · 05/02/2011 22:34

Thanks - that's interesting and the possibility of using a nanny wouldn't have occured to me.

Anyone else?

OP posts:

QueenBathsheba · 05/02/2011 22:45

DH also works compressed hours, one week he works 3 days and the next 4. I work from home part time.

We have a time table which is fairly flexible but it gives DH a clue as to what is being covered so he can take over from me if I need to go out/work or just take time out! I also look after aged P's so it's essential that dh can be involved when he is at home. I tend to schedule all the work that the children need a lot of "tutoring" with for when dh and I are both at home because one is a v.bright 10 yrs and the other a young for age 6 yrs.

FlamingoBingo · 05/02/2011 22:50

I do part time work as an NCT BFC, which I started training for when my oldest was a baby. I do courses three or four times a month in an evening or on a Sunday morning. That's it! Otherwise we just live very frugally - small house, cheap car to run etc.

My parents and DH's parents are very keen on supporting us HEing and know that lack of money might stop us doing it. Both sets of parents give us a small amount of money each month into a separate account, only to be used for the children - whether that's paying to visit somewhere, getting new books, taking them to soft play if the alternative is me going ballistic from cabin fever - whatever! I guess you have to have very supportive parents for that though! I didn't ask them - they had to persuade us and did it by reminding us that we'd do the same for our children; and that lots of grandparents would contribute money to private schooling if it was important to them and they had the funds.

Saracen · 06/02/2011 08:48

Wow Flamingo - how very fortunate to have two sets of grandparents who not only agree with HE but want to help with it! They are quite right, of course, but it never would have occurred to me that grandparents might make a financial contribution.

Mind you, there are many HE grandparents who are able and willing to help out with childcare, which is also brilliant and very useful.

FlamingoBingo · 06/02/2011 19:10

Yes, I know - we are extraordinary in the HE world

My mum says that money is a commodity and time is. If she weren't working full time and couldn't afford the money, she knows she'd be offering to have the children a couple of times a week so I could work to earn the money myself. Swings and roundabouts.

DizzyDummy · 06/02/2011 20:56

I work part-time from home and DP works 4 days a week from home, both self-employed and we just muddle through somehow

MrsKrumpet · 06/02/2011 23:32

My DH works full time and I work 3 hrs every weekday morning both of us out of the house. DD's currently go to a childminder. This is one of the hurdles/challenges that we have to face if we want to HE (which I do - DH still 'thinking about it').

Even if the childminder could/would look after them after the age of 5 would it still be ok for them or would they need more stimulation than she can give them? (tbh bit worried DD1 - 3.5 - is already bit bored there sometimes).

Can I continue in my current job? I really can't work out how would be the best way to do this, and if not can we manage on a reduced income? The other hurdles are for other threads....! Never considered a nanny - I assume it's beyond our pockets?

Apologies for the thread-hijack and multiple question marks. AngelDog hope you can work out whatever's best for your family

Tarenath · 06/02/2011 23:51

I work full time as a nanny at the moment. DS comes with me to work. He would have been due to start school this september. I'm quite lucky in that one of my charges is due to start preschool in september so I will drop to part time hours and have extra time to focus on ds.

I would look at a childminder rather than a nanny. Nannies are quie expensive, especially for only one child. We are employees so are subject to NMW and as an employer, the family is responsible for tax/NI. Nannies can't be self employed.

Mind you, I'm considering the viability of continuing nannying as ds gets older as a nanny/tutor specialising with HE children. No idea if it would work though!

anastaisia · 07/02/2011 11:05

On the other hand; I had a nanny share with another family which worked really well for a time. I paid her more than NMW - but it was very part time hours and I was happy to pay more for the flexibility I needed. The nanny was happy to take dd and the younger girls she looked after to home ed activities which they all really enjoyed and which a childminder set up that might not have been possible.

I think that it becomes more realistic financially if you have more children though - especially older HE children as their nursery/childminder fees won't suddenly drop due to their hours at school.

I don't actually use any paid childcare at the moment; am working a bit less than normal while I finish a course up so am working around DD's time with her dad, play dates and supportive family watching her.

I'm self employed so can be really flexible about when I plan work; am hoping to make more use of holiday clubs now she's old enough as well - and plan lots of paid work for the school holidays.

Original poster

AngelDog · 07/02/2011 22:44

Sorry not to come back to this sooner - both DS & I have been ill.

It's really interesting reading the different ways you all organise things - lots of ideas to think about. :)

OP posts:

HSMM · 16/02/2011 22:12

I am a CM and I would look after a HE child. I would however make it clear that the recorded 'education' should be done by the parents and the child would be doing the normal every day learning through play with me. They would obviously have extended activities to the little ones, so they are not making sandcastles all day every day. This is how I work with school children in the holidays too.

Having said that ... I have never been asked.

greenbananas · 18/02/2011 14:35

I'm partway through registering / training as a childminder and am hoping to look after HE children during school hours. Like HSMM said, their education would remain the responsibility of their parents, but I am planning to HE my own DS and I think it would be great to have a regular group of children who could all play and learn together.

Fififrizz · 20/02/2011 20:44

I'm a self employed Chiropodist, I visit my patients in their own home. I use a childminder one day a week and my Dad/friends help out other times if needed. I also work evenings and Saturday mornings when my husband is at home if necessary.

It is possible, but it's easier if you have a job which is flexible!

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