Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Home ed

Find advice from other parents on our Homeschool forum. You may also find our round up of the best online learning resources useful.

Flip

Original poster

Home educating chilminder?

21 replies

Vixhin · 29/03/2014 22:15

Hi,

I am a mother of two girls, a 3yr old and a 6 yr old. Currently, the 3 yr old goes to nursery 21hrs pw and the 6 yr old is in Yr 1 at school while I work part time. Since my dd1 started school, I've learned how much I don't agree with the school system! I've been doing loads of research and joined some Facebook groups to find out what the alternatives are. I'm totally sold on the idea of HE but one problem remains - I HAVE to work! I know people make sacrifices to make things work but unfortunately I have debts so I could not afford not to work. So what I wondered is: are there any home educating childminders who live in or around Croydon? I wouldn't expect the person to do all the teaching but I think it would be better for my children and theirs if we had similar outlook on education....what arrangements do you have if you have to work?
PS I have no relatives who can assist.

OP posts:

morethanpotatoprints · 29/03/2014 22:25

Hello Vixhin.

I don't work, but many tell me they do H.ed when they have finished work, or before they go etc.
Obviously depending on your hours, you may be able to make this work.
It is possible to include everything a child would learn at school and more in just 2 hours 1 to 1.
I don't think I would like somebody else responsible for my dds education. I suppose it could work if you told her exactly what you wanted and you had shared philosophies.

Delphiniumsblue · 29/03/2014 22:48

What are you going to do when she is past the infant stage? It sounds as if you need a home tutor. Would she want to just pass time until you were free to fit her in? Is she happy at school?

Original poster

Vixhin · 29/03/2014 22:53

Hi,

I was looking for HE childminder more because she might be more likely to have older children who also do not go to school rather than mostly under 5s or children being picked up and dropped off to school. I'm happy to do all the teaching myself as I already do that during school holidays and weekends. It would be nice if my girls did not have to be part of school runs anymore as that drives us all mad at the moment!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Vixhin · 29/03/2014 22:59

She is not particularly happy at school and often asks to be taught at home but I don't want to get her hopes up until I know I can make it work. I work Mon- Weds 8:45am - 2:45pm and could maybe adjust times slightly to finish even earlier so it would not even be a full day. I think she would OK to spend some time doing nothing and completing bits and pieces I set for her as she is very good at working on her own with minimal support.

OP posts:

Delphiniumsblue · 29/03/2014 22:59

I think that you are looking for a HEer who would cooperate with you and share, rather than a childminder. I dare say it is possible, but not many childminders are going to want it. Sharing a school run would be simpler. I can't say I would be thrilled at the idea of passing time while my mother worked and getting fitted into her spare time. I am a morning person and always have been.

Original poster

Vixhin · 29/03/2014 23:03

Delphiniumsblue,

You're right, HEer who would be willing to come to some sort of arrangement might be more what I'm looking for...

OP posts:

Original poster

Vixhin · 29/03/2014 23:04

Delphiniumsblue,

You're right, HEer who would be willing to come to some sort of arrangement might be more what I'm looking for...

OP posts:

Original poster

Vixhin · 29/03/2014 23:04

Delphiniumsblue,

You're right, HEer who would be willing to come to some sort of arrangement might be more what I'm looking for...

OP posts:

Thistledew · 29/03/2014 23:06

Can you qualify and work as a childminder?

Delphiniumsblue · 29/03/2014 23:07

I would look for local groups, someone might want to share with you and you could have a mutual arrangement. Otherwise she might as well be looked after in school for free and you can still do things in your spare time. Being with a childminder will be very boring I would have thought.

morethanpotatoprints · 29/03/2014 23:12

Maybe you could have a childminder for part of the time you are working and then share with another H.ed family on another day or 2.
This may work especially well if your cm was able to cover the times when the other families couldn't do it.
The only problem I see with using other H.ed families is ime it all seems to be ad hoc, but if you have cover for these times, no problem.
You still have time to do things with your dd when you come home.
Do you have a large H.ed group in your area? We don't have many here and it would be a problem if we relied on them for socialising.

Original poster

Vixhin · 29/03/2014 23:12

I thought of that but unfortunately my OH is not keen on the idea at all. I think he worries about responsibility and accountability and having the house turned upside down!

OP posts:

morethanpotatoprints · 29/03/2014 23:30

Is your oh completely out of the picture in terms of H.ed or could he help out as well.
My dh wasn't keen at first, in fact when I first suggested it he asked if I'd taken leave of my senses/ lost my marbles were his comments.
he has totally changed his opinion and has too much to say on the subject Always coming up with new ideas and helping dd to learn new stuff.

bebanjo · 30/03/2014 00:39

Could you not work opposite shifts to your DH?

Delphiniumsblue · 30/03/2014 07:48

Are you sure it is viable? If you are working and your OH isn't keen and you are going to have to employ childminders, well over the age you usually employ them. It seems a huge life change because you like the idea. Is your DC happy at school? If so why not carry on and enjoy your spare time with them, stress free knowing they are doing things at their own level with friends when you are not available?

ommmward · 30/03/2014 10:48

There are quite a few childminders who home educate their own children as well. You're unlikely to find them here - there is probxbly a local yahoo group or Facebook group where you can start networking with home edders in your area.

I would be exploring ways of moving shifts or having a job where you can work flexibly from home etc etc rather than spending most of your wagess on childcare, though.

Delphiniumsblue · 30/03/2014 11:39

I would definitely try to find a job to work around the children, rather than work the children around your job. It will be terrifically expensive to use a childminder on a regular basis.

Original poster

Vixhin · 30/03/2014 23:19

Thank you for all your replies. They've confirmed what I've been thinking of already - trying to find some sort of a job that does not require me to be in the office. I guess I just wondered if anyone had some sort of arrangements with other HEers that I could use until I find something suitable to do at home. I was just hoping for a quick fix but I suppose not everything in life has has one! Thank you everyone for your input.

OP posts:

Delphiniumsblue · 31/03/2014 08:00

I think it is a bit 'chicken and egg', you have to get to know other HEers really well to get that sort of arrangement and you can only get to know them really well by doing it.

maggi · 31/03/2014 10:09

Hi. I'm not near Croyden, but I'm a childminder and I HE my son(14) and would be willing to have other HE children. So we are out here. But officially chldminders are not allowed to be teachers to school age children. (On the other hand we are expected to be teachers to the under 5's, so work out the logic there.) So whilst you can use a childminder, you can not state to your local council that you are sending your child there for HE. You would need to say that you are doing the HE around your working hours and that the childminder is supporting you by providing trips and space to work and socialization.

VikingLady · 15/04/2014 21:00

I'm a registered childminder and would love the chance to mind an older child during the day. I also know other childminders who would be happy. Every childminder will have their own preferences in mindees with some preferring tiny babies, others liking just school-run/after school provision, so you really would need to contact all the people with vacancies in your area.

Your council will have a list of childminders with vacancies and they should each provide a short blurb about what they specialise in. Would that help?

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread