Home Ed - how do you make it work financially?

[KisstheTeapot14]

I am so tempted to home ed. our DS (8) who has dyspraxia and is 2 years behind at school (Y3).

Honestly I feel that much of school - especially Maths and English - sails over his head and is a waste of time. He gets very distracted in a classroom too and is often kept in at breaks to finish work.

DH has just set up his own business and is out much of the day and I work locally in a job I have had for a long time (a nice job and reasonably paid since I have been in it so long)

I am loathe to give up work (plus we wouldn't be able to meet bills despite frugal life style) but I just think DS is going to sink further behind with each year. He's such a curious, motivated lad - it's a massive shame he finds most of his educational day boring.

As a side issue - do they lose out from mixing with a range of kids from various backgrounds if Home Ed? Is it a bit cliquey? waits to be flamed, but it is my impression based on those I know!!

We are a single income family. Some people manage with part time work and juggling the children. Some people use childminders for part of the week. Some people work odd hours.

Home Ed can have cliques, yes, no question. I wouldn't say they are to do with race or culture, though. There is the hippy clique and the special needs clique and the gifted and talented clique and the school-at-home clique and, and, and... The people I see regularly are from multiple nationalities and socio-economic groups; the main thing we all have in common is that our children are at similar educational stages with similar social and educational needs.

That sounds like a difficult and frustrating situation for all of you.

My spouse works nights, I work freelance from home, and we have a lodger-friend who works days. The different hours help though I'm not sure if that's possible for either your or your husband. As ommmward said, some people do use childcare.

At the moment, while you consider your options, I would suggest having a google of afterschooling. I know some who just do this during the holidays to help work on issues. Some home education forums have a section specifically for it (and on additional needs like dyspraxia) who likely can give better advice (I use well-trained mind as it's one the busiest I know).

Could a childminder be part of the solution? Depending on your income, you may be able to get some of the cost subsidised by Tax Credits. You wouldn't need the CM to provide an education, because you and your partner can do that yourselves in relatively few hours with one-to-one attention.

You might even find a CM who HEs their own children, who could take your son to meet-ups and educational outings. There are some home educators who childmind, which is a job that's compatible with looking after their own kids. I used home educating childminders when I worked part-time. For us it was a brilliant solution. My child enjoyed playing with the CM's children and liked the change of scene involved in going to another house with a variety of toys etc. She also gained experience of the ways in which other families can do things differently - housework, rules, table manners, mealtimes and so on.