Do you HE outside the UK?

[justlookatthatbooty]

We're researching good places to HE our two (currently) preschoolers outside the UK. Connections with other like minded famillies being all important I'm wondering if there are any non UK based HE famillies loitering or posting on here?
We're thinking along lines of Andalucia, Mallorca, Portugal or possibly France if someone can convince me it's not as conservative/rigidly rule-bound as the Netherlands.

we are considering he in alberta, canada. not really what you were looking for, unless you like lots of snow and cold weather. there is a large he community in the cities, but not so much rurally.

Hi

I HE my 2 Dc´´s (both preschool) in Spain. Have to say is a big struggle, it´s not well seen at all and most people think its illegal (even from age 3). its not, but you get on dicey ground from 6 yrs plus, some families have been taken to court and lost (one family in mallorca) and others have won their case and HE.

There is a small HE community. Its seems the most liberal place here is in and around Barcelona, I live on the opposite side of the country in what might be the aquivalent to deepest darkest yorkshire in terms of open-mindedness (Im also from one of those deepest dark yorkshire towns!).

Anyway, hope that helps in some way.

Thanks for sharing.... mmm canada sounds cold! But beautiful no doubt.

Patito
Very interesting to hear your story, have heard similar tales. Am wondering if wer would have an easier time if we were only there (Spain/Mallorca) for six months of the year and therefore not registered as living or working there? We are thinking of flexi schooling over here in Amsterdam and home schooling when on 'long vacation'. Have you met any others doing this? apart from HE how is life in the deepest darkest area of spain? Would you want to move? Thanks again?

Justlook,

Only Greek children are obliged to attend school in Greece, so you'd have complete freedom in a sunny country where kids are cherished.

Not France. It's very much home SCHOOL there - you have to use the materials from the CNED or something similar like the cours sainte-anne.

Many good things but freedom in education not one of them.

we are HE'ing in rep of ireland. Not quite as exotic as the places youre considering, but theres a good HE community esp around Dublin.

Interesting LastSummer, thanks for sharing. Had indeed considered Greece but saw it was illegal to home school and that put me off. Good place to let the kids run around wild then?
Fraktious, we had very much considered France, because we had heard that there was a good contigent of organised and vocal home schoolers. Is it one of those situations where you can sort of pretend to follow the CNEd but really do your own thing?
Picnic, Irish folk have always appealed, not sure about the climate though!

Thanks for your tips people, very helpful.

We are looking at Portugal, but not as registered portugese dwellers, as they are very strict on school there. See what we can get away with for very long holidays.

Still open to hearing about other locations though!

Greece is a perfect place for kids to run wild in the sun, the sea and the mountains! Choose one of the islands, as I did, or a quiet part of the mainland like the southern Pelloponese. You may not find many expats, depending on the location, but perhaps that's a good thing. May be a good time to buy a tumbledown old house from an impoverished local. . .

I know a couple of homeschooling families in Belgium; and unschooling is becoming popular in Canada.

Organised, vocal and occasionally prosecuted. I suspect you're talking about people mostly in the SE region...

The govt can at any point send an inspector out to ensure you're following a prescribed curriculum and I'm fairly sure you're supposed to submit 'notes' for external verification at the end of each year.

We are in the UAE. School is mandatory for Emirati children only. The only drag is that shipping is expensive so it is a good idea to have materials and books shipped to family (or friends) in the UK and then pick them up when you go for a visit. There is a large community of 'homeschoolers' here -mostly American, Canadian and Australian. We have monthly field trips and lost of shared activities.

Thanks for the posts! Currently feeling really lost on the whole situation. All we really need is a place to escape to, to create a sustainable dwelling in for several months of the year (we home school here in NL so we are free to do so). We just want some space, some warmth and some connections to other famillies, local or expat. But where oh where? Portugal appeals especially as so many other Brits and Europeans are doing the same thing and I must say Greece has always appealed. Wonder about the current situation though economically/policitally. Last summer? We wouldn't be trying to derive our income from there though. Feeling quite desperate for change and space and a patch of land to grown some stuff, but don't want to isolate ourselves more than we are here in NL (No other homeschoolers here).

I thought homeschooling was against the law in NL, unless you can claim religious objections /reasons? Your children are under school age, but will that not change soon?

My son is just about to turn 4 and home schooling is, happily, not illegal in Holland. You do have to write off for exemption, explaining that school is not what you want for your kids on political, philosophical, or religious reasons but it's a straightforward and quick process.
Are you in Holland?