how do you meet up with other HE-ers in your area?

[ruty]

Ds is only 23 months but already we are seriously thinking about HE for him. The thing is, I already feel bad for him that he doesn't go to nursery because he loves other children so much and cries every time we have to leave one of his friend's houses, or leave someone he has met in the park! I am worried about him being too isolated if we HE. I know this may be a misconception, but what I would really like to do is meet up regularly with other HE-ers and have 'lessons' together. Does this happen anywhere? And where can I find out if there are other HE-ers in my area? Thanks for any input in advance!

Hello,
I've just started officially HE my two dds 7 +3 this week.
I have joined Education Otherwise and HEAS, who both gave me lists of people local to me who HE.
I have also joined the eo yahoo group and a couple more,
EarlyYearsHE (nationwide), UKhomeeducators (kent and SElondon) and kentandlondonHomeEducators. I'm sure there are loads more too!
After introducing myself I've had loads of replies from some lovely people.
I've been told about loads of local groups who meet locally, but because it is summer holidays there's not much happening.
I have met my first HE family, and it was very reassuring seeing it work successfully in practise.
There is a huge community out there, I was really surprised!

Have you read 'Free Range Education' or any of John Holts books? They are fantastically inspiring.

Good luck!

The home edders I've met tell me that - quite apart from the specifically formed HE groups - they just can't help coming across each other in libraries, cafes, in the park and all walks of life. Wherever you're hangout out, if you see school aged kids during school hours there's a good chance they're home edders and you'll end ufp chatting.

Where I live (Brighton) it's a huge community. I always keep it in my mind as a opton, but things are going pretty well at school for now so I don't want to rock the boat.

EO is a fab resort. It has a really interesting discussion group too if you don't mind getting scores of emails every day.

Thanks you two. I've just joined the Education Otherwise yahoo discussion thing, but have yet to figure out how to get involved with it - must have another look. We are in the Oxford area so I've no idea what the 'scene' is like here. I've heard good things about John Holt so must look him up. Very early stages here! The problem with the very good primary school in my area is that house prices in the catchement area are so high we just can't afford them, and we want to buy a house so will have to live further away.

can you get a list of local people Runnerbean? Do i have to ask EO for the list? Sorry to be dim.

When you subscribe to EO, you pay about £25 per year, they send you a package of stuff including a list of all EO members in country, who want to be contacted and also your local contact who'll give you advice about your LEA and stuff going on in your area.
You also get a members handbook, 'School is not compulsory' publication, Bi-annual newsletter, truancy card, membership card, car sticker and a list of more useful publications and organisations and places where you get concessions.

Don't be silly your not dim! I didn't have a clue what I was doing at first! I still have no idea what to expect from my LEA and I need to speak to somebody in my borough so I'm prepared!

ah got it thanks RB. I will join properly now. Thanks!

There are also things going on organised outside of EO - there are lots of local email lists where ppl coordinate what is going on. It's worth joining lots of the national lists as mentioned before and asking for local ppl to contact you.

You can join lists such as the Early Years Yahoo List (was Muddle Puddle) and find people in your area that way
Look here

Love Jules x

thanks for those tips - i've joined the early years yahoo thing too - just got to figure out how to navigate my way around the discussion board now. Dur!