Help and advice

[Leesakk]

Hi All, my DD is in year 8 and has had bullying issues since she started secondary school. This has now got out of hand over the last few days. I have applied for a transfer but no luck. She is begging me not to send her back and has admitted she wants to self harm.
How do I go about home ed? Would it work as I work part time and have a 5 year old at full time school?

Any help would be great.

Thank you

So sorry to hear of these issues.

I totally think it can work.

You don’t have to follow the national curriculum, there’s loads of resources online, like Twinkl etc.

She would have to come on the school run with your younger one unless you decided to home educate both which might be easier to be honest.

I have a 4 and 6 year old and we all learn together and it’s fine. They sometimes learn together and sometimes apart.

In terms of working part time, yes that would be fine, if you can either have a grandparent or other parent have her during that time for play/learning or even take her with you and she can do some work sitting near you or learn something there?

I have met my local he group and the kids and parents are lovely and nurturing and the older ones have been really sweet to mine. It’s nice as they interact with different ages.

I can’t rate it highly enough doing home Ed.

Please stay in touch and let us know how you get on x

online school

Hi Leesakk, I agree with AwakeAmbs that you can certainly make it work, but I wonder whether maybe she has misread your post and thinks your daughter is 8 years old? I suppose she is 12 or 13, in which case unless she is particularly vulnerable you have the option of leaving her alone while doing school runs with the little one or working.

Depending how many hours she would be on her own, how mature she is etc, it would be wise to consider whether she might get bored and lonely while you are away, and what you could do about that. A change of scene by going out for a walk or cycle, visiting local relatives or friends, skyping someone - that sort of thing. Perhaps another home ed parent would take her to some home ed activities, as a favour or a reciprocal arrangement or for pay. Your part-time work doesn't have to be a deal-breaker.

Some time out of school to regroup could be really helpful, and your daughter can stay on the waiting list for the other school meanwhile - do you know how high she is on it?

Hi Saracen, yes she is 12 nearly 13.
She is very mature for her age. She wouldnt be left alone as hubby works opposite shifts to me. Well, maybe for 30 minutes per day when he leaves for work at 2pm and I get home at 230pm.
I was worried about fitting in the study and my sitting with her in just the afternoons when I will have my younger one ( who is 5 ) home once I have collected her from school
She was second on the waitlist but has dropped to 4 and has been at number for since July. I have requested a managed move to another school but no idea if that is even possible so the home education is a route we are seriously thinking about. I am in discussions ( all be it a 2 week break now ) with the head of her current school and the board of governors but the bullying is happening outside of school now so this is not with in the schools control.
She is very keen to be home educated but my worry is how I can manage it myself, I have no family support as we leave 40 miles from family and I worry about exams etc.

Oh and I should add finding time to take her to any groups/meetings etc as afternoons/evenings are all I am free and with my 5 year being home from school it would be difficult. I dont want her to miss out on some social events if there are any. I want to do what is best for her and to see her happy and not have these thoughts anymore. I worry she will not want to socialise given the issues and bullying she is going through. I guess I have lots of concerns if I can make it work and am scared I will make the wrong choice

Are CAMHS in involved? If not, they should be.

I would speak to the local community police officer (or whatever you have in your area) about the bullying going on out of school as she needs to be protected.

If she's keen on homeschooling, that's one thing, but do you think she genuinely is, or is she trying to avoid the current situation? If she actually wants to move schools and have a fresh start, there are other routes to go down.

For example, if she's unable to go to school for mental health reasons but is still on the school's roll, the LEA has a duty to educate her. So I wouldn't pull her out of school and take on the responsibility of homeschooling (there's typically very little support) until you're 100% sure it's the right decision.

Hi, apologies, I misread the post regarding age.

I still think you absolutely make it work though I have no experience of that age.

Thank you for all your help everyone. I will do some research into HE as that is the route she wishes to take. I have also spoken to a Doctor today ( under my private health insurance, a perk of my job ) and she is writing me a letter to try and help me fight a case against the LEA. If I can even get an offer of another school it gives us another option. There are no school places in any school with in the borough, apart from the school she is in which is no surprise. The HE route scares me a little if I am honest as it seems like a minefield but I will do as much research as possible so we can make the right choice for her.

he-exams.wikia.org This is the best source of information for home educating through late secondary years. The linked Facebook group too is very supportive.
I am home educating my 14yo (always HE have a 17yo in college) and the numbers home educating through the later years and exams just keep spiralling, there is a lot of support and resources available if you look.

Good luck and keep us updated :)