Support thread for new home educators

[ToffeeWhirl]

There seem to be a lot of us around at the moment, so I thought it might help us all to have a place where we can swap ideas, chivvy each other along on the bad days and cheer for each other on the good days.

I have two boys, the oldest is 12 and is just starting out in home education. My youngest is 6 and is still at school. Fortunately for me, he has just told me he's missing school and looking forward to going back .

We have had a good summer, with lots of dog walking, excursions, get-togethers with friends and family and minimal rules on television watching and computers. I have had a lovely time ordering books for our home ed library (failed to reign myself in on this ) and planning what we are going to study .

The plan at the moment is for DS1 to do a bit of Science, Maths and English every morning. He has a tutor for English once a week and we are going to get him a Maths tutor too. We will spend the rest of the time doing projects, reading together, practising handwriting, art, etc etc. Fridays are going to be 'free' days for informal learning, such as excursions.

I have been in touch with the local HE groups and we are planning to meet up with other HE families.

I'm spending some time today organising everything - plans, timetables, files, folders, lapbooks, etc. We have a visit from the LEA next Thursday, which gives me a good deadline to work towards.

I would love to hear how the rest of you newbies are getting on. And words of wisdom from the more experienced home educators are very welcome too!

Sorry you didn't get what you wanted mam. I'm sure you can still make a huge difference!

We had a great day yesterday. We did some great science using youtube then we used the stats we got from that in our maths. She persevered with maths and won through. Then we did history and watched wartime farm. It's really good and got us talking about sexism, racism and rationing.

This morning we're going to her old school to take her uniform in as there's a second hand uniform sale tomorrow. Hopefully we'll sell some! They've said that she can go and say hi to her old class.

Other things not going so well. Seriously struggling to find rental houses to view in Sussex. They're going so quickly. I think we're going to need to go down there in a holiday let or hotel so we can act quickly when something comes up.

Had one very weird reaction from the mum of one of DD's friends. I offered her a nearly new school sports bag (used for 6 weeks and they cost £30) plus a swimming hat (£7) and a school backpack (£30) as spares for free as they don't sell them in the second hand sales. She sent me a really snotty reply about being more than capable of providing these things! Very odd.

Thanks guys for your support and sympathy.

have decided to ring village school that has vacancies and her foot was appointment to veiw.

Its further away, they may so no to flexi school but they smaller, better support and more clubs.

will veiw 2nd school then decide.

went to do pickup yesterday and feel like theres more bad new every week at current school and clicklyness of other mums drives me potty too.

Someone in ddds class had bad accident on infant play equipment at lunchtime. The lunchtime staff dident tell teacher, the then very quiet child sat in class all afternoon and when the mum went to pick her up she could hardly walk and realised foot was swollen and rushed to a and e its broken and shes on crutches for 6weeks.

spoke to teacher as dd passes phobics test -no additional reading support this year depiste being acknowledged shes starting froma low point.

No support for numeracy either and part time ta.

dds freind come home with her shes same year different birthday shes july so was in smaller class last year now on level 9 , dd pon level 5 most of class 6/7.

Helena grace-good luck with move.
what a weirdo ungrateful mum over sports kit.

More than potato prints-not sure could juggle all their needs age 6.5 , 3 and 18months maybe when younger ones are older.

The head loved the work we had done-that was never called into question-was the missing 1 day a week part he hated-disrupting class, extra workload for teacher, dd being different socially.

I think im more cross hes let other family do it for last 3years.

hope everyone has good day we have joy of sports day later if weathers nice as was cancelled last year due to rain.

Yes, I'd like to know his justification for letting the other family do it and not you, mam. Good idea to visit the village school if you are so unhappy with DD's present school. If you send your next two children to the same school, you have a lot of years ahead of you and you need to be happy with your choice. That is awful about DD's classmate, but, sadly, I have known the same thing happen at DD1 and 2's primary school too. I think staff get a bit blase about children injuring themselves sometimes. (DS1 ended up with an infection and a scar on his chin thanks to the teacher not dealing properly with a fall he had at school, where he cut his chin badly ). I hope the mother at your DD's school complains and the school tighten up procedures after this.

Hope sports day goes well.

Helen - you and DD sound as if you are having a great time . The other mum's reaction to your kind offer is extremely odd - her problem and her loss, though. I had a similar experience recently, when I offered DS1's entire school uniform to a friend for free (saving her hundreds). She never took me up on the offer and eventually, when I asked her about it, said she had bought it all. It was really annoying because, had I known she wasn't going to accept, I could have sold it before the new school year and made some dosh for home ed stuff. I still don't understand why she didn't take up my offer. The uniform had hardly been worn and our DC are practically the same size .

I hope you have some luck finding a place to live in Sussex. It must be very difficult managing that as well as home educating your DD.

morethan - has your DD been back to her new string group yet? I hope she finds it easier this week.

Have declared today a day off, much to DS1's delight. It's an INSET day at his former secondary school, so his best friend is dropping in later and maybe staying the night. I think it's far more important for DS1 to socialise when he gets the opportunity, rather than study.

Also, I am knackered, so it will do me good to take a break today .

Hope you all have a good day.

Hello everyone.

Our week seems to have been a very mixed bag of rowing with dd, then the other end of spectrum, being H.ed best decision we ever made. I am usually the one out of me and dh who can look at the bigger picture and take holistic approach. However, I was for throwing the towel in this week, until dh calmly reminded me we could have 10 years of H.ed in front of us. This was not the best time to suggest this as I could have strangled somebody at that point. It wasn't a good day. So like Colleger, have decided to take a more autonomous route and today has been better.
T
hanks Toffee, yes she went back to her ensemble yesterday and had practised the pieces for 30 mins every day. Her confidence grew as 4 older girls y6 started and as were sight reading the pieces needed support and she didn't have help this week. She also went to choir and is already practising audition pieces for next concerts. Confidence restored! Lots of practice today though, and even managed a bit of theory, can't be bad.
Hope everybody else is doing well.

Helen, I think you are doing fantastic and sounds like your dc are thriving. Hats of to you for making it so much fun for them. I think this takes alot of talent as I think some people could get bogged down with curriculum, levels and be worrying about what they are doing, you seem so cool.

Iris - just saw link on another thread about how primary schools are using Minecraft to teach. Might be worth showing your DH. Am trying to work out if I could do the same with DS1.

Hmm. Will try again. here

Took me ages to find a printable body outline for biology today, so - in case it's of interest to anyone else and saves you time - here is one I found. I'm using it so DS1 can put body organs in the right places, but it can also be used for paper dolls, self-portraits, etc. Lots of other interesting printables on this website too.

Hello everyone.
Well after a busy few weeks (for me) I have taken DS out of school - he didn't start at all this term. I felt nervous but liberated.

DS is 15 and is being assessed for SEN. He's been unhappy at school - well, always. And more so in the last 18 months. School have tried to give him lots of support but he gets bullied and his few friends aren't enough to make up for the huge amount of people there he has to cope with. He hasn't achieved anything academically really.

was my previous thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/teenagers/1556754-Help-15yo-DS-curled-up-crying-saying-he-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school-on-Thurs

Anyway school have suggested they recommend him to the Pupil Referral Service on 'Emotional and psychological grounds'. This will mean 5hrs a week one one tutoring up til his GCSEs next year. This is a great help for me as I am worried about getting him through them on my own. DS will remain under the pastoral care of the school but under no pressure to return.
He will be home edded to make up the rest of the study he needs. At the best I hope for 2 passes. I'm self employed and a lone parent, so this next year might be a bit of a shock - hopefully not too much.

Now I'm looking for the right books for DS to use in study. We already use Bitesize. What should he use for Eng Language, and Science? Do I have to check with school/PRS which exams he's taking - they will be paid for by school.
I've seen some books on Amazon called AQA - would they be the right ones for us? And DS is trying to do geography but it's overwhelming just to look at the worksheets sent by school - are there any decent books out there?

Thanks for your help.

Sorry that was the weakest link, trying again...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/teenagers/1556754-Help-15yo-DS-curled-up-crying-saying-he-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school-on-Thurs

Hello, CuttedUpPear. I have read your other thread and I'm so sorry you and your son are going through this awful time. It all sounds very familiar to me (even down to your son using Minecraft as an escape from the real world). It sounds like a good compromise that he will still receive tutoring from the LEA, although he should be entitled to far more than five hours a week. I can't remember how much I was offered for my son now, but it was more than that, although, thinking about it, that might have included the e-learning facility.

As your son has been referred to the Pupil Referral Service, you should get the support of an area co-ordinator from the LEA. It took ages for this all to go through in my son's case (months), but once it was up and running, we found our LEA contact very helpful. I hope you are just as lucky.

I think you should check with the school which exam board he is going to be following and which textbooks are recommended. As your son is still on the school roll and so, technically, still a pupil, he is entitled to work and textbooks from the school, but you might have to badger the school a bit for them. Before the LEA stuff was set up for my DS, I asked the school for work and they eventually sent a pile home to us. I did have to email each teacher individually though. I also received some textbooks to use.

There are lots of great textbooks, but you need to be sure which exam board your son will be using first. I think AQA is one of the most popular.

Personally, I like BBC Bitesize and I think it would be fine for your DS for the moment.

Is your son getting any support through CAMHS? We went through no end of therapists, but we're with a good one now who diagnosed DS1 and gave him medication to help him with his anxieties and OCD. The combination of medication and not being in school has been the best thing for him. I really hope your DS gets the help he needs too.

I know exactly what you mean about feeling liberated. It is unbearably stressful to keep trying to make your child do something that is making him so unhappy. At least that pressure is off both of you now. Can you make sure your DS1 keeps up contact with his school friends though?

I would give both of yourselves a break for a bit before you do any work. Could you watch films together/go swimming/talk about Minecraft/go for walks, etc etc? It sounds as if you both need a holiday.

Hi Toffee, I'm please to tell you that DS is much happier now - more polite and helpful as well, I hope it lasts!
We have had some work through from school (although the geography is immensely confusing) and a really nice letter from DS's Science teacher, saying how much he will miss him.

One of DS's friends from school has been in contact too, a girl, and he is trying (although mostly failing) to arrange to meet up with her.

I feel that we have already had a break - it's been a couple of weeks - and DS has worked out a study schedule to start with next week.

We aren't getting any support through CAMHS - no one has been in touch yet really. DS's assessment of SEN is somewhere in the pipeline, I think/hope they will need to meet with him soon. We're in a Welsh area, will that make a difference or is it still CAMHS do you know?

I've bought a load of study books for Eng Lit today on Amazon so DS can start with them next week. I think the Shakespeare text will be a bit of a shock so I've bought him 2 graphic novels of the play as well (Merchant of Venice).

CuttedUpPear - It's good to hear that your DS is happier already. What a relief for you. Good too that you already have work from the school. I have to say that I ignored the school work that seemed too boring/irrelevant/confusing and we just worked on the rest of the stuff or did our own thing, but maybe it matters less at my son's age (he's 12).

You should keep that nice letter from the teacher. My son also had some lovely correspondence from teachers when he left (emails) and I have kept them in my home ed' scrapbook because it cheers me up to see them. I'm sure your son's Science teacher will want to know how your son gets on in the future.

Good news too that one of your DS's friends has already been in touch. I really hope he manages to meet up with her. It's so important for him to keep in contact with his friends.

Sorry to hear that your son isn't getting any help through CAMHS yet (it is CAMHS in Wales as well). We were told it was initially a 12-week waiting list for an initial consultation.

The graphic novels of 'Merchant of Venice' sound an excellent idea. DS1 has just started on 'Romeo and Juliet' and I have no idea how he is going to cope with it as he is more used to the language of Minecraft .

Have just spent a pleasant half hour cutting out organs of the body for DS to stick onto a body outline tomorrow. Have added flaps to the outline too (eg. lift the flap to find the heart). There's no point asking DS1 to do any of this because he hates crafty things (whereas I love them), so this is a compromise. He will have to label the organs and position them correctly. Hopefully, this will help get the facts in his head. Have also found a useful page on the BBC Science website called the Interactive Body, where you have to drop the organs onto the body image correctly.

Off to bed now...

Just de lurking to say to Cutted up Pear that you need to find which exam board you?re using and then go have a look at their on line resources, and get the appropriate course books for that board (so AQA books for AQA exam board) and especially the scheme of work, grade descriptors and examiners remarks. (We initially chose a lot of edexcel syllabuses to study because of the openness of what it took to get what mark, perfect for ASD son, and quality of resources available.)

This should start to make a lot more sense of things for you.

As he?s now under PRS/U he can actually sit any board that any of your LA?s schools are using, as they are registered exam centres for those boards. (They should just pay for any board and find you an exam centre, but you probably have enough on your plate without having to enforce that)

How to study a Shakespeare play may be helpful. we found some ideas here useful: www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/howtostudybard.html

We also found this a useful dip in resource: absoluteshakespeare.com/

Science; you need to find out if he will be doing controlled assessments through school, (and how they will arrange tuition for these) or if he will switch over to a written only syllabus, and again which exam board.

If you want, and can tell me which exam board, ie; AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, etc, (and preferably but not essential, higher or foundation tier) and give an idea about what topic, ie urban environments, developments, microclimates etc, the ?confusing geography? is about (or is that the confusion?) I may be able to help, or find you resources. (We?ve done IGCSE geography, as an s/e L/P so sympathies, and are now onto AS)

One useful set of books that cover a majority of useful stuff no matter what exam board is CGP books. They?re a lot better than Letts, but some find the Letts one?s easier, so horses for courses.

Many Heinemann educational books are automatically good quality.

Don?t forget that your library can do library inter loans (sometimes it helps if you know x library has the book you want) and should buy in books if they would be of use to many.
Hope something ^ is of some use.

Sorry, the links haven't come up as links, but if you c+p them into browser they do work, or maybe someone smarter that me could make them be links?

Re: Getting's links:

Shakespeare link here.

Absolute Shakespeare here.

Heinemann website here.

We had a very positive visit from the LA today. She was really nice and showed an interest in what DD was doing but didn't pry. Apparently I've raised eyebrows by being very open with them and not being funny about having a visit. She gave me four sides of helpful websites and offered DD subsidised music lessons!

DD has been struggling with our weather topic do we looked at the flood warnings today and got the local OS maps out and looked at where the warnings were and why there might be flooding problems there. Wasn't entirely sure it would work as we were a bit spontaneous but it worked well.

We've decided to HE DS next half term too as we'll be moving in that half term and it just makes things easier.

We're going househunting in West Sussex this weekend. Hopefully we'll be more successful than last weekend!

Helen, wow subsidised music lessons how on earth did you manage that one? Its great, you leave the system and get offers that would never be forth coming whilst at school, ha ha.

Good luck with the house search, its hard when you only have a couple of days. We did the same with a move from Norfolk to Lancashire and the house we are in now we lost once. We were gazumped half way back to Norfolk.
It all worked out well.
I think its a good move H.ed for ds as you can look at areas without fantastic catchment for schools if you think you might make H.ed permanent for them both.
Your weather topic sounds fun and very topical this last couple of days.

We are still doing lots of music, but are managing a few other things now including science (I decided to revise plants) and Geography (UK and British Isles). I am a bit concerned atm as dd seems to retain very little knowledge which means she may be struggling like I did. Maths is just terrible and I really don't know what to do.

Helen - that's wonderful that your LEA contact was so helpful and offered your DD subsidised music lessons. Good idea to home educate DS too whilst you are in the process of finding somewhere to live.

More - are you still following a more autonomous route, as you mentioned further upthread? Is that working all right with your love of lists? Sorry your DD is struggling to retain knowledge and that it is worrying you and bringing back memories. Does your own experience of dyslexia/dyspraxia mean you know how to help her? I sympathise with her on Maths. Maths is my poorest subject and DS1 struggles with it too. He is using MyMaths and MangaHigh, as well as the Galore Park textbook (but he needs a lot of support with this). We used to subscribe to MathsWhizz for both DSs, but the novelty wore off after a while.

DS1 saw his English tutor yesterday morning, but I didn't push him to do the work I had planned afterwards because he was in a state of high anxiety about a hospital appointment I had to attend. At times like that, I'm so grateful we now have the flexibility of home education. He asked to do some art on the computer instead and he found that really relaxing. He printed out his picture this morning and said, "I feel really proud of that" .

His tutor has noticed DS is struggling to concentrate for the full hour and has suggested that he do just half an hour, with his wife (also a teacher) spending the other half hour on Maths. This is a brilliant idea, because it means DS will get the Maths tuition he needs, but we don't have to fork out any more money.

I might also suggest that the tutor drops the Shakespeare study for now, as I think it might just be too difficult for DS at this stage.

Had a good day today. DS is really getting into a routine with regular work now. This morning, he practised his handwriting, then we spent quite a while looking at organs of the human body. He spent some time on the BBC Science Interactive Body site. Then he stuck pictures of body organs on a figure (with flaps to find the kidneys and the heart) and labelled them all.

He did some multiplication practise with a 'Number-Word' puzzle, then played on MangaHigh. He seems to have forgotten a lot of his times tables, so we will have to spend time practising them again. I feel as if we are spending ages on the basics of Maths, but there's no point in progressing before he's ready.

How is everyone else getting on? mam - have you visited the other school yet? Or had anymore thoughts about home educating full time?

CuttedUpPear - I hope your DS is still being helpful and polite! Long may it last (I have to warn you that DS1 also went through this stage when I first took him out of school, but normal service was resumed later ). DS1's 13-year-old friend came to stay overnight yesterday and managed to say only one sentence to me the whole time, which was, "Where are my socks?" Not a word of thanks for meals or hospitality. Surprisingly, I am very fond of him! I think it's just a teen thing.

TBex, Colleger, Bee, Intersat, Iris and Take - how are the early days of home ed going?

morecats - is your DD feeling stronger now after her recent anxiety relapse?

Toffee.

I think you have answered my question. I presume if I can REMEMBER to stick to the basics in maths she may not panic so much and it may give her an ounce of confidence here.
We are still doing loads of music, maybe too much but she is happy with this. She also asked to do science today, but I think maybe maths was too much.
We aren't fully autonomous as old habits are hard to break, but she is choosing what she wants to do more now, and I am dictating what she does far less. You would think my dyslexia and dyspraxia would enable me to help her, but I think it makes it worse. Over the years I found strategies to overcome certain problems but those of early school I blanked as it was a very painful time. I am so glad that things have changed in schools now and that we took dd out when we did. I know it could have been a lot worse and she has the full support of the family now. I had my doubts that she wasn't quite right from around age 2 but all through school yr-y3 they told us all was fine.
I am so glad your tutor is working out well and half an hour sounds great. I am going to look at some fun websites for maths, dd last school had mathletics and she loved this. Although when logging on at home she spent most time changing her persons profile.

Glad everyones doing ok.

Toffee whirl-Really not sure what to do.

got appointment with other school tommorow.
the other schools grounds not as good and quite a distance.

Not sure to aska bout flexi schooling on 1st visit or not.

dd likes her current school and has freinds, its just the academic and next 4years at junior that worries me.

Her current year 2teacher is much better than last year.

literacy improving
numercay still a struggle.

between homework and clubs on weeknights and meetings its hard to do much with her at home hence why wanted the 1 day off.

shes done a bit of carol vordman and earned her final badge.
The video tutorials with carol been really useful.
shes got until 30sept-but shes earnt all her summer club badges so just few more things to do.

we done some free ixl-as thats helpful to tally up as extra homework that they doing in school.

Cant wait until half term when we can do more.

she got 10/10spellings last friday.
shes gone up reading levels
moved tables for literacy.

we joined free trial on phonics play and the bbc websites free stuff been useful she seems to prefer computer based learning with interactive games.

definatly signing up to maths factor for tables and sums and xlr for maths curriculum year 2 and hope that will help.

Right now I dont think fulltime home ed be good for her as she likes school, the younger 2 not sure.

toddler likes preschool-but thats just craft and play.

Hi all, been away for a few days and just getting back into the swing of things, everyone here seems to be feeling positive!

DD1 mentioned that she never did much craft at school so she spent a lot of today making a tractor out of junk recycled materials - she was very insistent that it had to be a John Deere one.

She did some more of topic on Ancient Greece and researched crafts and food, wrote a shopping list so that we can eat like Ancient Greeks tomorrow, although I did ask that fox be crossed off.

Did numeracy with free IXL, am thinking of subscribing at £59 for year - does anyone have any feelings as to which maths website is best?

Finished up with some reading, really need to visit library but all three kids have received 2nd reminders for books I have no knowledge of! Will have to ban DH from using library cards.

Hope everyone had a good day.

T bex I been using the free ixl last few weeks.
read few reveiws mostly american and canadaian home educators use it.
Must admit do like way it tallies in with uk national curruculum and the uk ixl is covering exactly what she does in school.

So week before last-school did shapes. they gave out 2lots of shape homework , as daughters in lower table she got stupidly easy stuff like spot shapes in your home-Even I was insulted.

The top group got properties, no of sides and identifying more complex shapes -so to make up for dismall homework I did some ixl with her you get some free daily-dont think its good for teaching so far maybe its once subscribed too but for reinforcing knowledge of maths topics think its very good as if get wrong it explains why got wrong.

I think £59 a bargain.

We nearly completed carols summer school on maths factor ended up getting that for 5.99 as joined half way through summer.
must admit I like this for general maths and times tables as lots and lots of repition and dd likes her video tutorials so pondering if should do arthmitic club £19.99 a month or one off times tables at 19.99 and add revision clubs and think they do a winter holiday club too but they dont seem to cover shapes and other things ixl cover and no free trials.

I joined free 10day trial yesterday of education city as read on primary board that some schools use it for homework this appeals as covers

science
maths
literacy and languages and is bargain

£30 a year

The bbc sites great just type in maths keystage 1 of 2 even keystage 3 as is all bitsize with games.

I worry im becoming an online educational junkie as signed up[ for phonics play free trial as dd loves using it in school thats bargain £12 a year and useful for younger 2 in few years time.

Keep reading good things about maths whizz but thats £19.99 a month.

But in comparision when dd was struggling year 1 we looked at explore learning £80 a month-for maths and english.This was computer based learning so really very similar to what some sites above were offering.

even if I joined maths factor, whiz combined that be £40 a month and add ilx, phonics play and education city that be another £100 a year so over course of 12months £580 a year yikes seems high when add it up but cheaper that the £960 explore or £1400 kumon.

Still havent purchased the singapore my pals was lusting after as unsure where could fit it in now heads turned down flexi school proposal.

kumon I think was £60 for maths and £60 for english a month!

Is it worth ringing ixl and asking if try for one month £8 then if like it and take year then get that £8 back? least worth a try see if its for you as they only seem to offer free trials for teachers.

education city have free 10day trial and mthas factor have some revision courses £6.99 not sure when winter club is guess in xmas hols.

Sounds like you doing well.

we visited smaller primary today-I loved it.
but dh thinks too far, dd wouldent want to move, no gurantees siblings get in as out of catchment and its smaller lack facilities but they way they taught so handson think dd after settling would love it but dh reckons doesnt offer much more than she gets now and her year 2 teachers good its next 4years im worried about.

We could move next year-if theres space which is rare
or guess could deregister/homeschool if all went horribly wrong with current primary.

feel even sadder no seen it and definatly on 1st choice for younger 2.
but dont want to go against hubby and would be an issue.

im not sure eldest be receptive to moving..
Think a move would be good for her but if cant convince hubby or child then no go we all have to agree..

Hoping to do bits and peices on weekend as feel especially need to support her miore with numercacy this year as with literacy she improved already.

Oh thanks Mam, that's so helpful, I'm going to look at BBC site tomorrow. I'm really sorry that you feel sadder after seeing the other school. Have you talked to your daughter about it?

Thats ok t bex theres so many bit overwhelming read about most on primary board so in comparison mode of which is best value and suited to my dd.Least there are some free stuff and lots of reveiws onine of most of them just google maths whizz reveiw, or ixl whichever one that interests you.

Testing education city on weeekend but this one appealed more for literacy and science rather than numercacy.

Been looking at numicon maths manipulatives online blimey they pricey, the other school mentioned they used it.

Hubbys decided he wants appointment with current year 2teacher this week to find out how shes doing, targets, additional help and how year 2works in current school but still think hes pro dd staying where she is.

Spoke to my mum who thinks im silly and reckless by but she made some bad school choices for me.

hoping to do some one to one learning with dd weekend weeknights o hectic and shes tired.

hope everyones doing ok.

Sorry you are feeling troubled and sad about the school issue, mam. It's difficult to move your DC once they are settled in a school and you do have to think of practical issues like sibling places and distance as well. The main issue is whether your DD is content at school. If she has good friends and is settled, that's good. A friend of mine has two highly gifted children and they were never challenged properly at primary school, but they had a stimulating home life and they were happy at school. They have both gone on to do really well at secondary, so it didn't matter that they weren't stretched at primary.

The trouble with trying to do stuff with your DD out of school is that she'll be too tired for it. I don't do anything 'schoolish' with my DS2 once he's home from school, although we do 'make and do' stuff together.

Funny you should mention EducationCity: DS1 is doing a trial on it today. I think there's a discount for home educators if you subscribe.

TBex - Sounds like you and your DD are having fun doing stuff together. I haven't tried ixl but am intending to give it a go. Both DC did MathsWhizz for a while, but the novelty wore off. It was fun for a month or two.

Today is meant to be our outings day, but DH has gone to work this morning, I have a visitor at midday and it's raining, so not sure if we'll fit it in. DS won't mind, as he hates going out anyway. Maybe we should watch a DVD instead.

The house is a mess. Have piles of books and files (not to mention DS2's 'make and do' stuff - cereal boxes, etc) all over the dining-room table and the top of the piano. Looks like a proper home educator's house these days .