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Original poster

Which area/town gets your vote as the best for Home Ed?

18 replies

LauraIngallsWilder · 23/02/2011 20:21

I have just posted on another HE thread expressing supreme Envy that I dont live in or near Bristol - so I have just thought to myself:

Which is 'the best' area to live in order to HE?

Obviously everybody's idea of best is different, but I am very interested to know which area/town people rave about!

Here where I live in Wales, not much happens, partly due to low numbers of other HErs, partly due to lack of money, partly due to semi rural area, partly due to general apathy/lack of interest from other HErs to do more 'stuff',

Most of the time our current HE situation doesnt frustrate me - but reading ommwards post about all the great stuff that happens sooooo frequently in Bristol has made me seriously Envy

So if you were to reccomend somewhere to live to HE where would it be?
(do feel free to temporarily name change if you want to be more discreet about where you live!)

Thanks all :)

OP posts:
Original poster
LauraIngallsWilder · 23/02/2011 20:23

And before people chip in and say "Oooooh well organise stuff yourself then!"

That is difficult too - for other reasons that I can go into if people arent already bored of me wittering!

OP posts:
countrysidemummy · 23/02/2011 21:40

Southampton has lots of home ed stuff going on, and a really nice home ed group. It's also easily within reach of 4 or 5 other groups, so i guess they would get my vote (although i only know about home ed in Hampshire, so might not be much of a recommendation!).
I had trouble finding a group i could reach without transport as there wasn't one in Portsmouth where we live, so i started my own - but it was really hard work and took over a year to really make it a decent sized group with lots of activities. It was well worth it though :)

Bluebell44 · 23/02/2011 23:03

I can't comment on HE groups having not been in one for a while but would love to hear about others too. Knowledge for the future ............

FionaJNicholson · 24/02/2011 06:53

Hi

I'm in Sheffield, which has a lot of social activities going on + an internet support list, SYHEC. It took a few years to get it all going though. We were helped by getting rent-free weekly session at our local council-run adventure playground, which also has indoor facilities. There has been a small group of locals who meet with the local authority so although the Sheffield council website is still rubbish, on the ground the behaviour is quite reasonable and if it's not, we get on to the council to sort it.

Fiona

mychildrenarebarmy · 24/02/2011 10:56

Essex has a huge HE community full of really lovely people from all walks of life. The LEA (should you be involved with them) are also pretty good (take care not to confuse them with Southend LEA who are quite bullying in their approach and very negative as far as HE is concerned). There is often so much going on that it is a case of what are we going to miss so we can catch our breath.

thesmiths88 · 24/02/2011 17:18

LauraIngallsWilder, whereabouts in Wales doe you live? We are in Pembrokeshire near Haverfordwest and are hoping to HE our daughter when she is old enough (only 4 months at the mo!)

inhindsight · 24/02/2011 23:13

Hi Guys,
I am so glad to see Essex mentioned in a positive light! We have HE are DD(7) in Cyprus for the last 3 years.
It's been a little lonely, He-ers are thin on the ground here in Paphos.

We are returning to England soon, most likely Essex (or maybe Suffolk) and looking forward to meeting other families who HE.Smile

Saracen · 25/02/2011 07:14

We're very busy in the Oxford/Abingdon area, with a moderate amount of activity in other parts of Oxfordshire.

For a long time there wasn't a huge amount happening here despite the large numbers of HE families: there was just one big organised group meeting fortnightly, plus some outings available only to those who attended that group. I think everybody was content to leave all the work to the few people who organised that group, so nothing else happened! In recent years more and more of us have taken it upon ourselves to set up little groups for this and that, organise outings etc, which in turn galvanises others who see that making things happen really is a cooperative enterprise.

Good transport links with London too. Our family hasn't taken advantage of that much, but friends make frequent trips.

bloggs10 · 26/02/2011 14:47

Lots of things happening in Plymouth curriculumisnotcompulsory.wordpress.com

Original poster
LauraIngallsWilder · 27/02/2011 23:41

Hmmm
Your responses (so far) some up my preconceived ideas - ie that mucho things for HE go on in populated areas in the south, far fewer the further west and north you go.

I am still utterly jealous that I dont live in Bristol (esp as I lived there for 6 years prechildren)

Here we have one or two groups per week and thats it unless you are willing to drive for an hour++

And at most groups the main activity is socialising!

The other big feature of the groups local to here is bickering/major arguments between the adults - which definately has an impact on things (ie major reason why not so much is happening HE wise here)

Thesmiths - Ill message you!

OP posts:
Betelguese · 28/02/2011 10:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

barleycorn · 04/03/2011 16:46

We're in Lancashire, there's loads going on round here and in Manchester and Stockport. I think as more people HE there's more new ideas and enthusiasm coming in, which is great.

mychildrenarebarmy · 04/03/2011 19:39

inhindsight There is a lot going on in Essex. I sat down last night and had a look at all the things that people could choose from next week alone and came up with a list that looks like this...

a French club,
a Maths club,
a soft play centre meet up,
a rock music club,
2 science clubs,
2 sports clubs,
3 different monthly group meetings,
1 weekly group meeting
an art club and
a nature club

Lots of lovely people too.

inhindsight · 04/03/2011 21:23

mychildrenarebarmy
Thanks for the list, it looks amazing.

We arrive in Essex (from Cyprus) in 5 weeks! We are originally from NE England but my eldest daughter has married an Essex boy, and has just told us she is pregnant! Our first grand-child Smile so Essex it is!

Thanks for the list_ It's reassuring to see so much happening on the HE front, especially since HE here in Cyprus has been a little lonely.
DD7 thinks she's the only girl who doesnt go to school so it will be lovely for her to meet other HE children. We will be spoiled for choice!

mychildrenarebarmy · 04/03/2011 21:30

inhindsight Congratulations on the news of your first grand-child. :) Which part of Essex are you heading for?

inhindsight · 04/03/2011 22:44

We are not sure exactly where we will be living yet.
We are looking for a house anywhere within an hours drive of Colchester.
We are happy to travel to He events, but do you think there any areas to live that are better for HE?
Thanks

mychildrenarebarmy · 05/03/2011 17:18

To be honest any part of Essex is likely to be pretty good. Colchester has a lot going on but it really is the case that there are things all over the county. When you get to Essex and start to meet up with people you will be able to join a couple of message boards specific to the area (people already on the boards have to have met new members and be able to vouch for them). Contact me via my inbox and I will try to give you a bit more information.

flussymummy · 05/03/2011 19:27

We're planning to HE our girls ( aged 3 and 1 just now) but haven't found much near Huddersfield yet... Might hook up with some Manchester groups though barleycorn!

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