I feel HE may be a way forward but ...

[turquoiseamethyst]

My main concern for DS (8) is that he will struggle to reintegrate in secondary school and I would be hoping for him to go back then, to be honest.

He is currently in year 3.

What have people's experiences been?

Short answer: I think it's really important to do what is right for our children now, so that they thrive now, and let the future take care of itself.

Lots of children shift educational setting into secondary - into a new area, or into a school that others from their primary didn't go on to, or from HE into secondary. When the time comes, you'll know, and your son will know, what the right direction will be for him.

I agree with ommmward.

The experiences of the children I have known who have gone into school after some years of home ed are as follows.

Those who are fairly average adaptable children find the move into school easy. Home education as such does not make them different from their peers, who tend not even to realise their new classmates haven't been at school before.

Other children are perhaps home educated for the very reason that they don't fit well into school. It may be that they never have and never will. School just isn't right for them. A period of home education doesn't make it any harder for them to return to school later. Nor does home ed make a return to school any easier for them, except inasmuch as it spares them several years of unhappiness and gives them better self-confidence on which to build as they face the challenges of school when they are older.

Home education closes no doors. Give your son whatever he needs now.

Many thanks - what wonderfully sensible replies! :) I think I will like it here :)

You may also change your mind by then and re-evaluate your thoughts on secondary...you may not but will also be safe in the knowledge that HE is an option if needed in the secondary years. Kind of win-win!