Any home educators in Devon/Somerset? Feeling a bit desperate.

[rosieposey]

I moved 7 weeks ago from Wilts to Devon and DS is 4 now and i am doing a few bits with him ( he is not that interested - prefers to play) but i desperately want to meet up with other home ed'ers.

We don't know anyone here and i feel a bit out of my depth with what we are trying to do (I've lost my confidence but not my belief that this is the right thing for DS) although everybody asks why he isn't in school now and make some very strange faces when i say i am home educating him!

He has no friends down here and i have tried a few groups ( emailing them) and they must either be defunct or have different contact as i never seem to get any replies.

I just feel like we have no idea what we are doing (no 1 ) and (no 2) we are a bit lonely and would like to meet other people in our area ( although we will travel) who are home educating as well. Anybody?

aww. We are the other end of Somerset - there's a really active community around Weston-super-mare but i'm guessing that's far too far for you. Why not get in touch with them (I think there's a wrington HE yahoo group which would catch some of the north somerset people) and get them to get you in touch with the people the furthest south that they know of, and then do the same with them? We'll find you a community using the jungle drums one way or another!

Join Facebook. There are lots of home ed groups there - mumsnet home education for a start and Home Education UK. There are 1000s of home edders there and someone will know what is going in around you. Good luck, it does get easier!

I have a friend near to Glastonbury who home eds. She seems to have access to other groups although she does seem very self sufficient.
Not sure if you're close to there or not.

Oh thanks for the replys - i am a bit too far from Weston or Glastonbury sadly - i was thinking along the lines of Taunton which is in a 20 mile radius or Exeter.

I have just posted on the facebook home ed page ( thanks for the suggestion) to see if anyone knows of any local (ish) groups around where i am.

I am happy to be fairly self sufficient I am just worried about DS as he has no friends ( and keeps asking when i am going to find some for him here :( )

It would be so easy just to send him off to school as that is what i am being pressured to do but it is the last thing i want to do - this area is rich in terms of things to do and i know we have made a good move but it's just bad timing when he was supposed to be starting school and he does seem lonely.

www.educationotherwise.net/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=92%3Athe-home-education-centre-in-chard&catid=56%3Alocal-groups-somerset

Not sure if this is still going but worth a look and not far from taunton.

There's a big centre in Chard. How far is that from you?

Oh, I see cranberry beat me to it!

Chard is still a good hour which is a bit more of a shlep than i had hoped for. I will look into that one though as i said i just cant seem to find anything that local.

We drive a bit of an old car so driving that distance frequently wont be much good in the long term but perhaps there will be people who know people who are closer to me.

Yes, and they will know of other centres around, and possibly of other home edders nearer you. If there's no centre nearer Exeter, you might even end up sorting out your own, if there are enough of you. The Chard started with only a few families...

There are two groups in taunton with children you age. Pm me and I can add you on fb and put you into the two groups.

I've posted the taunton one for you on Fb page

There are lots of home educators in the south somerset, Dorset, devon area.

Ask to join the east devon home educators yahoo group. (Can't do a link).

Not sure if you still check this. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and we home ed. Live near Crediton x