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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.

The full truth about home educating?? What do I need to know?

7 replies

lisad123 · 24/11/2011 19:18

I had always planned to home ed dd1 after year 6. She has autism, and major anxiety issues.
She is currently in year 4 and really struggling emotionally :(
She's a very bright little girl, is on gifted and talented for math, English and art, been a free reader since year 1 and her teacher is currently working at year 6 level.
We are planning to move house and schools and are considering home eding once we move instead of stressing her with new school for the sake of 2 years.

I guess what I want to go is; what are the downfalls and struggles of home ed and what are the positives? Why did you choose home ed? What's your best hint and tips?
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
threesnocrowd · 24/11/2011 20:51

I have only just started out on my HE journey and so far I'm just wishing that I'd done it years ago. My reasons are as numerous as the stars I think but my key reasons are a desire to teach my children, spend more time with them, remove them from a negative environment, improve behavior. So far, much of the bad behavior has started to change, they're not tired anymore from stress and so their happiness has increased. They get excited about the smallest things. Ds1 (7) has become a child again. He's dressing up, playing lovely games with his brothers rather than just fighting all the time and worrying about what's acceptable with his peers. Ds2 who is quite poorly quite often and dealt with stress in a terrible way has had a brain transplant I think. His stress levels have come right down and he's become happy go lucky. He's very teachable and keen to learn. Ds3 just likes having company. The bad side? I get asked for things more often as they come everywhere with me so they see things that they absolutely have to have all the time! When I'm grumpy there's no break. Fortunately, because I'm less tired and stressed, I'm also less grumpy. Ds1 doesn't like being told to do anything and makes us late for things. He also has a fear of failure which I assume has come from school. I'm working on that gently.

Sorry to have gone on so long, I'm very excited about it all at the moment. I've heard from far more experienced HEdders that there are times when its just hard work and tiring. I'll deal with those days when they come! Good luck with making your decision. It took me 2 years!! Take care

julienoshoes · 24/11/2011 20:54

*Don't rush out and buy workbooks/curriculum based activities, to begin with. You will probably never use them and other things will show themselves to be more relevant to your home ed after a while.

*If you move don't bother informing the LA. You are not obliged to by any law, enjoy a hassle free time educating your child instead.

*Find the home ed community locally.

*Take time to Deschool especially as your child sounds like she has had emotional and anxiety difficulties with school. Time will aloow you to decide what sort of home education suits your family best.

*Join the Home Education:Special Needs email support list people there are the real experts in home educating children with SEN-the parents actually doing it. You'll find a welcome and support there from people who know exactly what you are going through.

*Read Home Educating our Autistic Spectrum Children: Paths are made by walking
"Mainstream educational provision for children on the autistic spectrum can be inadequate or inappropriate. An increasing number of parents dissatisfied with the education system are looking elsewhere for an approach that will suit their children's needs. In "Home Educating Our Autistic Spectrum Children", parents who have chosen to home educate their children with autism or Asperger's syndrome candidly relate their experiences: how they reached the decision to educate at home, how they set about the task, and how it has affected their lives. Following these personal accounts, the final chapters offer practical advice on getting started with home education, legal advice from an expert in education law, and contact details of support organisations"

For us, the only downside was having much less money than we otherwise would have had, but oh, the pay off of having happy self confident children back, with a sparkle in their eyes, has been so worth it!

We felt we had been forced into home educating our children because of their deep unhappiness at school and their schools unable to meet their SEN. It soon became a lifestyle choice though, and nothing would have made us send them back. We've had such a good time with our children, since we deregistered them, they have thrived and been so happy and so very successful (outperforming by miles every prediction their schools made for them, by miles!)

My single regret is that we didn't find out that home ed was a legal viable option, and deregister them years before-or better still never ever to have sent them!

catnipkitty · 24/11/2011 21:22

Hi
I'm another one just starting out with HE. Twins daughters just left year 2. Elder daughter in year 3 and she's chosen to stay at school fro the moment. No major traumas, could just see how tired and drained and stressed the girls were, wanted to have more input into their education, spend more time with them, take away the peer pressure, take them away from grumpy shouty teachers. They are like different children since leaving school, full of sparkle and laughter, they play all day but still seem to be learning stuff too! I'm hoping DD1 leaves school soon but not pushing her. I too wish we'd never sent them at all, but so glad we've made the leap now :) The main downside I'm finding is that it is tiring and I get very little time to myself to 'just chill', and things like going shopping are more of an expedition than before, plus the housework is taking a back seat but I don't really mind and I really enjoy their company! No experience of SEN i'm afraid, but hats off to you for putting your child's welfare and haapiness 1st, and as someone on here advised me when I was deliberating, there's no harm in giving it a go!
Good luck!

lisad123 · 26/11/2011 09:56

Thanks Grin

OP posts:
AmanitaMuscaria · 26/11/2011 17:54

There are some lovely replies here; inspiring for me too, as my DD finished school yesterday, so am just starting out on my HE journey.

For what it's worth, I think that you should listen to your gut instinct and take your DD out of school when you move. What's to be gained by waiting, if you know you want to HE eventually?

threesnocrowd · 26/11/2011 18:58

Amanita: Good luck! I was so excited a few weeks ago when I finally did it. Enjoy having your daughter back!

AmanitaMuscaria · 26/11/2011 21:56

Thank you! Smile

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