Want to start HE, advice pls

[mygirllolipop]

Since we moved last year I have been thinking about HE the kids. I mentioned this to DH and he was very supportive. So just wondering how you go about taking them out of school. How you go about the tests they have to do (SATs etc or do they not have to sit them?). Was also wondering about if you can get hold of a curriculum and what resources are available to you if you HE.
If you have any advice on the kids making friends or general advice please pass it on.
TIA

Hi mgl

How old are your children?

First stop is the Education Otherwise website (check out the other threads in this section for a link or just google them) - they offer lots of support and advice and can put you in touch with other home edders in your area.

You don't have to follow the national curriculum if you home ed by the way - you can just do what you want, although the LEA may want to check up on you periodically to make sure the kids are receiving an education. LEAs vary greatly in their attitude and level of interference on this.

There are also a number of mailing lists for home edders - I think you will find links on the EO website

Sorry not to give links here, I'm ina bit of a rush!

Good luck :)

Thanks SD, will check the site out.
I have 3DDs and am pg due in Nov. The girls are 7, 5 (well 5 in two weeks) and 14 months. Am I mad for thinking about HE 4 kids? Or is this the best option? TBH I am seriously thinking this is the best option for the 4 of them.
I would like to follow the curriculum but may change my mind when I start HE!

I don't think you're mad at all - brave though! I'm biased though, I've been a supporter of the home ed philosophy for a long time, although I haven't actually managed it with my two for various reasons.

You might want to do some reading about home ed before you start - John Holt's books are the best place to start, in particular his first two books "How Children Fail" and "How Children Learn" - I can't recommend those books highly enough. You might change your mind about following the national curriculum after you've read those!

Have been on the EO website and a few other websites I have a letter of deregistration wrote out. I wasn't aware that the school then inform the LEA, been trying to find out what I have to tell them, might send them a curtosy (sp?) letter anyway.
I have wrote a list of pros and cons and have convinced myself this is the thing to do. I am now looking for resources online and where to buy books etc and am preparing myself for any LEA visits by answering the questions homeeducators.co.uk say the LEA will prob ask so I am armed and not intimidated. Also will make me look and feel organised!
Thanks SD will look out for those books.
Advice still appreciated.

Hello mygirllollipop, i have been home edding my DS since Nov 05 with 4 hours a week provided by the LEA.

He is doing so much better, he has AS and was very anxious and depressed about school but since he has been at home he has flourished.

He,s a different boy to the one of last year, everyone who hasnt seen him for a while says it.

You will have your work cut out and be very tired but it is so rewarding.

We dont follow books or a timetable as he does that with his tutors, we adopt a more relaxed way of learning which involves a lot of discussions and reading things together, visiting places,watching documentaries and the internet is a godsend.

If you do decide to do this then you would be wise to join EO, although we dont meet up with familes as DS wouldnt be able to cope with that its very good and gives you lots of info.

HTH

Thanks Jenk.
Have made a decision on this and the longer I've decided the more I convince myself this is the thing to do. Will prob take them out of school at the end of this acedemic year.

So what gives you HErs ideas about what you will cover each day.

What groups/orgs do your kids go to? Was thinking brownies/rainbows/gymbobs/dance classes.

Dh is planning to do this with our son (currently 2.9). He's got some great books from Amazon that have really helped him get a sense of what he needs to know and ways of teaching. I'll see if I can get the names tonight.

That would be helpful MM, I think that's what I need.

When I was looking into the possibility of HE for ds1 I found \link{http://www.muddlepuddle.co.uk\muddlepuddle} a useful site. IIRC the person who runs the site has daughters who are a similar age to your children. There is a useful diary/blog there too which sets out what they are doing with the children. There are also links to other resources. HTH

Just wanted to say I was talking to a friend the other day who took her 8 year old out of school a few months back (she also has a 4 year old) and is home edding. She says it's the best decision she ever made. Good luck

Thanks CT and SD.
I've asked on another thread about different types of groups to send the kids to for social reasons. Have come up with brownies/rainbows/guides, beavers/cubs/scouts, St John's Ambulance, a Woodcraft thing, and dance classes. Oh and Gymbobs because I take DD3 to GymBabes (well proud mammy moment - she's graduated to TumbelTot status now!). Just though of swimming classes too hmmmmmmm.
So just need to find groups and do some lesson plans. But to do that I need to know what subjects I should be covering within the broader subjects.

Where are you, mygirl?

West Midlands, well Shropshire.

Don't do the LEA any courtesy. Wait for them to contact you.

In addition to Education Otherwise and Muddlepuddle -

Home Education - UK is a good site. Their mailing list often has loads of people discussing the LEA and the many of the LEA - especially up around your way - tend to abuse their power.

www.home-education.org.uk/

Abuse their power? Reject educational philosophies, demand huge packs of work samples, insist on interviewing the children, home visits. threatening SAE's etc. Oh, the horror stories I've read and watched be solved!

But - de-reg right now is very good. There is a law currently being discussed which will allow your children to remain on the register for a period of time. This brings up loads of legal issues for home educators. (Truancy - for one.) So - getting out while it's still easy may be a good thing.

Mike Fortune Wood is an incredible advocate for HE'ers and will often help frustrated or intimidated parents through their initial LEA issues. Sometimes to the point of emailing their Head Of department - only if the family requests intervention. He maintains the HE-UK mailing list.

I learnt a lot from that list when we first moved here from The States. Sorry to be incoherent. DS is ready for a project and clamoring.