Home Ed questions/advice (UK)

[Whatsthatspookynoise]

My son is very clever, but I feel does better learning when he's at home than when he's at school, even if it's down to him learning on his own. He gets distracted easily and will start singing or go really slow with writing because he can't focus. He doesn't have any issues such as ADHD, he just can't focus in that environment for some reason. He also finds it hard to make friends at school, but very easily when we go somewhere like the park. The teachers say it's due to him having a more grown up sense of humour, but they do nothing to help him have friends at playtime etc. I feel that it would benefit him to not be at school, but I know so little about home ed that I'm scared to make that leap and mess it up for him.

What is the average day like for you?
Why did you choose Home Education?
Where do you get your resources?
How do you deal with the school and taking a child out?
Is there somewhere I can get a plan or do I make one up? How do I know if it's what other kids his age are learning about?
Do you think it's okay to do Home Ed when I have pretty bad social anxiety and no friends with children?
Do you stick to the same days and hours as school time?
Where can I find more info/talk to home ed parents?

Anything else you can help me with is useful.

Thanks!

You don't say how old your son is. My youngest is 14 and into the GCSE years. Eldest is at college. Our days look very different now to what they did 10 years ago when I was home eding 4 and 7 year olds. So I can't really answer the typical day question usefully.
We home educated from the start as quite simply we felt that a personalised education was better. I went to university at 18 to train as a primary school teacher - I quit after 18 months. I was attending lectures that about child development and how children learn and then being taught about the National Curriculum which seemed completely at odds with the first lot of teaching. The tale is much longer and more complex than that, dh had slightly different reasons, but the crux is that neither of us believed that state school would provide them with the education we wanted for them.
There are so many resources available now, masses more than when I started out. We used mainly American resources for maths and English partly as more were available it also because they do a much better job of teaching the basics and building firm foundations. The internet is your friend but take it slow, don't spend money at the start, children learn in different ways and what works for one won't for another. Free trials, free resources, books from the library and lots of hands on activities, days out and exploring interests is the way to go at the start while you settle and find out what works.
School varies slightly depending where in the UK you are.
The best thing about home ed is the scariest thing too. You are in charge, you have to provide and education suitable for his age and ability, what you do is up to you. There are NC guides on line but it really does not matter what kids his age are learning, Home ed gives you the ability to give him an education that is pitched at him. We never followed the NC until secondary age, US or stuff aimed at private schools for maths and English and projects that I created for everything else. My eldest had no trouble transitioning to school when he chose to go and my youngest has had no trouble moving on to GCSE.
The social side is the hardest thing about home ed to me. I have hated having to go out and talk to people and what is hardest is my youngest is a home bird and needs to be dragged out. But the social side is important. Over the years we have found activities that worked for him, made friends. I have volunteered a lot, it helps me to have a job when we are at a group and that also meant I was committed to going.
I did stick to school days/hours when they got to the age of going out to play with local friends as was easier than dealing with knocking children. But not necessary to and home ed is much more efficient than school so it is hard to compare. I
Facebook is the best place to meet people. There are lots of national groups and try searching Home Education and your local town, city or county to find local groups.