Would you homeschool in these circumstances?

[whizzyrocket]

We have recently moved (military) and my two boys have now been a month at the local school. The younger is ok. He is FS and SEN and so the teachers are doing really well at adapting to his needs.

My older boy (8) seems to have landed in a horrible situation though. The class has some challenging kids in it- he comes home with tales of “Poppy threw a chair” and “Grace told me last term Charlie broke so and so’s arm.” I believe him. All he has learnt since arriving is foul language. He tells me the teacher often gives them iPad time. They are on educational apps but not doing anything targeted. He came home recently and told me they had three hours of time on these apps. He doesn’t seem to be learning at all as any work they do is pitched too low. Frankly, that’s not the education I want for him.

We want to buy a house back in the village we came from. It’s an hour away from here- my husband is working from home much of the time in any case. Obviously this latest lockdown will slow things right down on that front though and we are right at the start of the process so goodness knows how long we will be stuck here. However this does mean that homeschooling would only be temporary until we move.

Today my lad told me he broke down in tears at school. He says he tries not to cry as the kids aren’t understanding. He has cried to me many times in the last month though.

He is an extremely bright, capable, sensitive boy. We were absolutely fine through the spring/summer lockdown. He produced some wonderful work and was happy.

I have the time, ability and inclination to teach him. I am teacher trained myself but currently jobless.

My concern is that I won’t be enough for him in terms of company. I enrolled him at Cubs but they are only meeting via zoom. He can call his old friends but it isn’t the same. His brother is autistic and is lovely but not always the easiest playmate.

So what do you think? Would you do it?

To compound the situation his teacher is the SENCO whose support I need for the little one. I don’t want to tread on her toes.

Like a shot.

No social interaction is better than negative social interaction.

Yes I think I would. There was a R4 show on homeschooling this week that was interesting and made me rethink some of the preconceptions I had about it www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000p0zj

No question about it. I would try it and see how it goes.

It is worth recognising that social opportunities during the pandemic have been limited for many home ed kids, especially if they don't already have existing friendships. All the same, @CatherinedeBourgh is absolutely right in saying
No social interaction is better than negative social interaction.
Our society is a bit obsessed with the idea that children who don't mix with lots of others of their own age will be miserable and socially stunted, but it's better to be alone than unhappy with others.

In areas with an active home ed community, there will be some home ed groups running, though far fewer than usual. We are even allowed to continue with those during the current lockdown, provided they are educational and not purely social. Such activities form part of our curriculum, and are not classed as extracurricular. Many of us usually supplement our home ed activities with extracurriculars such as sports and drama alongside schoolchildren, and those are not meeting at the moment. So it is hard. But it still might be the least-bad option.

I guess that since the school has such extensive behaviour problems, it is probably not oversubscribed? If it has vacancies, your son could return whenever he wants. If it doesn't, he'd have to go to a different school, which might not be a bad outcome. You can check whether the school has vacancies and if so how many, and that can inform your decision.

I'd suggest that you try home education for a while, and assure your son that he can return to school whenever he wants. Most home educating parents in this country let their children choose whether to go to school or be home educated, at least when they are older. Your son is the one who knows best just how unhappy he is at school, how lonely he is out of school, and which of those less-than-perfect options he prefers.

like a shot.

I did, HE'd at around that age and haven't regretted it for a moment. he can go to a different school when he's older, it needn't be forever.

No social interaction is better than negative social interaction.
^ this 100%

forced association isn't socialisation.

God yes! That school sounds awful. ‘Ipad time’ ?!!

Lockdown won’t last forever and once it loosens there will be home ed things you can take him to. There will already be some stuff - home ed activities necessary to the child’s education are specifically exempt from the lockdown. We are home edding this year cos world gone mad and my son goes to home ed forestry classes twice a week. Join every home ed group under the sun and you will find something social you can drive him to. Or, perhaps, a different school.

But get him out of that school asap.

Quite honestly if the school is that bad I would home school the pair of them. I am also early retired teacher and I really enjoyed teaching 14 year old during first lockdown. His school set virtually no work for him, no online lessons, with excuse some children might not have laptops or tablets. Every child in his class has a devise they can use and several children have both laptop and tablet. You can ask your son as his school is upsetting him and he is not leArning there would he.like to stay home and learn like in lockdown. If he says yes you have your answer. I was worried very sporty son 14 would crack up in lockdown but he adopted to not seeing friends and no sports clubs. He learned to play chess online and used it as his skill for his DofE. He also learned about how India split to form Pakistan. Nothing his school set but as he loves cricket he found it fascinating. If you homeschool you can set work appropriate to your ds's ability and interest.

I'd homeschool the both of them tbh. You child with SEN might be enjoying it because he doesn't have to do anything b

Yes yes and yes. That school situation sounds awful!

Worth noting that although some home Ed groups aren’t allowed right now, I’m pleasantly surprised this time that some of ours are allowed to continue as they are classed as educational. Notably forest school Bet your boys would love forest School..... also our sport class continues.

Out of interest whereabouts in the country are you?