Can anyone talk to me about HE in Bristol?

[SugarPeaSnap]

The reason I ask is that we're thinking about He'ing our Dc's and are moving to Bristol soon. I have friends in the city but don't know anyone who HEs there. I know Bristol is seen as a problematic city school wise and and I've started imagining that there might be a larger than average number of home educating famlies in the city. Can any one shed any light?

I don't know anybody there, but I have heard that there are many HE families and a lot going on in Bristol.

Why not join their forum and chat with them?
www.bristolhomeeducation.org.uk/

Bristol is massive for HE.

There are several inter-connected groups.

HELP (Home Education Learning Place, I think) meet several times a week. Some of their stuff is more formal - like French classes and pottery and stuff; and then there is a big social meet up every Friday at Felix Road Adventure Playground from 12 onwards.

There is a separate website and yahoo email list (I think) for Bristol Christian Home Edders. THey also meet up several times a week - I know they do regular trips to the Noah's Ark zoo farm, they do multisports on a wednesday (or is that not the Christian home edders? I can't keep track), they were all meeting at at Bristol last Thursday.

Then there are various less formal meet ups. I think there's currently a little-ies meet up at the central library every Thursday morning. There is also a gang who meet quite regularly for outdoors-y stuff like nature walks or kite flying or whatever.

There is a drama group for certain sure.

There's a huge amount going on. And I'm only mentioning the stuff that is arranged formally - there are all sorts of informal get togethers with just a couple of families. Look forward to meeting you! :)

Thanks to you both , that's really encouraging.
I'm excited about the move and finding out more about HE, but also my eldest (just 3) is quite shy and bolts when he sees a big gathering so I was wondering how I am going to be able to network a bit without frightening him off! Maybe a subtle drop in at library will do for starters...
ommmward look forward to meeting you too!

You could join a local email list and arrange to meet one or two other families at a time - have them round to your house or meet at the park or swimming pool.

Or see whether there is a parents' social evening. In my area some of us go to the pub regularly without kids. That gives us a chance to have a complete conversation without taking a small person to the toilet or breaking up a sibling spat every 30 seconds. And sometimes we like to talk about our kids out of their hearing! ("Will he ever learn to read?" "Should I make her go to the home ed group even though she says her sister is her best friend and she doesn't need anybody else?") Some parents whose kids hate groups can get their own social "fix" this way. If there isn't such a thing in Bristol you could suggest it; if the place is crawling with home educators then you are bound to get a few takers!

I sent you a message :)

I am so that I dont live in Bristol!