Home educating just temporarily. Can you do this?

[MashaMisha]

We are relocating to the UK in the new year, with school age DC.

I'm wondering about home educating the DC for the first few months, while they settle into their new environment.

I thought it might be a good opportunity to explore the UK, go to museums and things while they aren't too busy, as I won't be working at first.

Once I find a job, I'll apply for school places for the DC at that point.

Most people I have expressed this idea to have been appalled, and said that legally, the DC have to be in school.

I know that home ed is legal, but is it OK to go into it knowing that it is just a short term thing? I was thinking it would probably be for a 6 month period - which would probably take us up to the end of the school year anyway. Do I have to tell the council that I am home educating? Or do I just not apply for a school place straight away?

Will I have problems trying to get a school place after the summer holidays - will I get asked why I didn't apply as soon as we arrived in the country?

If I get a job more quickly, then I might need a school place at short notice; will I still be entitled to one if I have said I am home educating?

Would home educating for a short period actually be beneficial, do you think?

Will I be holding them back from making friends straight away?

The DC are both primary age, if that makes a difference.

Sounds like a great idea .

You don't have to tell the LA that you're home educating, no. You just don't apply for school places and go your own sweet way until you're ready for your children to go to school.

That said, depending on your local area it might be worth making enquiries and securing places, if possible, in advance of next September, just to be sure you get the school/s you want for them. There is a deadline for applications, but having HEd for so long I'm not sure how the school admissions system works. There will be information on your LA's Education Department web site so you could look there for deadlines.

If you haven't already, you might want to have a look at the 2007 Guidelines for LAs here which should answer some questions for you.

Brilliant idea! I think it would be an excellent opportunity for them. It is very straightforward and does not prejudice your chances of getting a school place.

Will the area in which you eventually settle be dependent on where you can find a job? Or are you choosing a home first and then finding a job in that area?

If the former, home ed makes even more sense. Why put the children into a school for a short time when they are unlikely to be able to stay there anyhow? It's hard work settling in to a new school. Let them get to grips with the new culture and do some fantastic trips in the early months and then go straight into a school where they can stay for years.

But if you are putting down roots immediately, it may be more complex. If a place is available at a desirable and nearly-full nearby school, you'll want to grab it while you can. You won't be able to delay your child's start there for long or you risk losing the place to someone else. Taking up the place makes even more sense because (depending on local admissions criteria) having one child at the school usually bumps the sibling up the priority list, so you want to get a foot in the door. If schools are oversubscribed in the area then you may well end up with just one child in your desired school and you might decide to HE the other while hoping a place will come free, rather than putting the second child temporarily into a school which is far away and having to juggle two school runs.

It's complicated. A lot depends on the local school situation. If you are lucky enough to find no issues there, then I think it's a no-brainer. Home educate for a while and have a blast, of course!