thinking of home schooling

[lollylu]

I was thinking of home schooling my child and would like some advice off anyone who has home schooled. Also it would be lovely to hear your experiences with it!

What sort of questions do you have? I have been home educating my children for about 10 years, so my experiences good and bad over the years would fill a book. Is there anything specific you would like to know?

I will try and cover some of the standard questions.

We home educated from the start. I dropped out of a teacher training degree and roots for home ed are there. I am not anti-school/teacher but I think the national curriculum is a mess and a disgrace.

We started off fairly unstructured but mine needed routine so we built up to about 1 1/2hr of structured stuff four days a week and some hands on project work at about 9. Not a workbook fan, I use a bit of classical, a bit Charlotte Mason and make it up as we go.
Eldest went to school at 10 and had no problems.
The social side isn't always easy. It was this that drove DS1 to school, he preferred the company of his school going friends to home ed ones. DS2 has a lot of HE friends and the home ed social scene with it's flexibility to have days in works for him. I have had to force myself out there to talk to people and I spend a lot on bus fares.

I work from home. Know lots of people who work and HE, all sorts of solutions around that one.
Mine do clubs and activities without me. I have always stuck to having an out of the house commitment every week. We all benefit from time apart.
My family were totally supportive, my in laws do their best to support without really understanding the motivations. Never had many negative reactions and ignore those that I do.
We will do GCSEs as I feel that unfortunately now they are the only way to unlock doors onwards. We have a local HE run exam centre when the time comes.
The subjects I feel I can't adequately support (music, languages) we use tutors or online programs for. I do a lot of learning around and with him.

It has it's moments but home ed has given us a wonderful life and we don't regret it.

I'm also thinking of home schooling my son who is due to start school in September. I've been a teacher for almost 9 years and despair at the thought of what he'll be expected to do every day. I'm still very much on the fence as I know school can be wonderful but am looking into a variety of ideas. I'm also considering flexi-schooling.

Hi, really thinking of home educating for (as yet not school aged) children. Seen into what some primary schools have to offer and I am really concerned. It feels that they (teachers/schools) are just trying to rush due to the time constraints of large class sizes, varying ability etc. I feel I can naturally give more time to 2 children than any teacher can to 30. I do need lots of help so where is best to start?

I have posted here. I guess I will try other forums.
If children are not registered for a school is there anyone I have to inform, e.g. Local Authority?

No if children are not registered for a school you are not required to inform anyone. Most LEAs ask you (or tell) you to inform them but you are not legally obliged to and there is nothing to be gained from it in majority of cases.

Why did you choose to home educate? I have spent a lot of the time in the classroom and hate the environment for (so many) children. I cannot afford a place with smaller class sizes (e.g. private) and wish to be with my children longer. Is this similar to others?

I feel lots will judge me though and say what about the social side (I aim to take my children to lots of sports/activity clubs etc). In a classroom they are like sardines and the children so often upset each other-it does not seem natural to have 30 people in a room the only thing in common the year of birth.

I went to university at 18 to train to teach (it was all I had ever wanted to do and got a lot of negative reactions for it - I was 'too' clever). About 1/3 of our training was in the classroom.

I was absolutely appalled when I saw the national curriculum documents. They fly in the face of all reason or research into how children learn. I saw a bright little girl in reception spending at least half her time sat on the carpet killing time and that got to me as she reminded me so much of myself yet my school had been fantastic and I loved primary. We were taught to 'differentiate' but the focus was on pulling up the lower ability not supporting the higher. The National Curriculum is a national disgrace in my view, it introduces some concepts far too young, always keen to rush on and gives no real solid foundation in maths and English. Geog and History are a joke. The law is that you have to provide an education suitable for a child's age and ability. I don't believe the NC fulfills that. .
I do think 4 is far too young for full time school and I wanted my children to have an education that is rich, varied and tailored to them.

Hello - lots will judge you. You will get lots and lots of comments about it.

Doesn't mean they're right.

Will you be able to cope with people judging you?

Ironically, one of the key reasons I started home educating my older daughter was for the social benefits! I felt she needed not just to be with kids but to play with them, and to play in a way they can't do properly at school.

Helloyouall, you seem to have a clear vision of what you want for your children, and to realise that school won't provide it. When you see how it is all panning out for them, you'll be less bothered about what other people think. In the meantime, spending time with home ed families will help. You'll be able to see how they socialise and ask the parents whether there is any element of truth in the fear that kids won't have a healthy social development without school.

Are you in touch with HE groups in your area? There may be activities suitable for toddlers which you could start attending now.

Thank you everyone . Loved the bit about freedom from mum time . I have been looking into local home ed groups and I have realised I may well need to get tougher to cope with comments.