Tutoring and childminding a small group of home educating children.

[RaisingAdults]

I am a qualified teacher and childminder. I am looking into tutoring a small group of 3 home educating children from my home, providing full time education and care. Has anyone else ever done this? Would I be classed as a school? Can it be done?

Thanks in advance!

As it's fewer than 5 children, it won't class as a small school. If they are from one family, it wouldn't count if there were 5 or more.

I think it's 5 or more children from more than one family and it has to be full-time for it to count as a small school.

How would you manage if you were ill? Would you provide cover or would that fall to the parents?

@Tinuviel

As it's fewer than 5 children, it won't class as a small school. If they are from one family, it wouldn't count if there were 5 or more.

I think it's 5 or more children from more than one family and it has to be full-time for it to count as a small school.

Great thank you, yes I saw that too! So I think I wouldn't count unless any of the children had an EHCP. 👍

@DurhamDurham

How would you manage if you were ill? Would you provide cover or would that fall to the parents?

Good question, it would mainly fall to the parents, but there is a chance I could find back up care (not tuition) through my childminder links.

I don't think it would be a school but it's a great idea. The issues are is your home accessible, are you trained to support children with SEND, what happens if a child becomes unwell or gets injured,etc. If it's just you working there you'd need a lot of training and back up plans

@Lacedwithgrace

I don't think it would be a school but it's a great idea. The issues are is your home accessible, are you trained to support children with SEND, what happens if a child becomes unwell or gets injured,etc. If it's just you working there you'd need a lot of training and back up plans

Thank you, 😊

Yes I've been working as a childminder, with tutoring on the side, for over 10 years...I have all the policies in place for illness, accidents etc

Was trying to think what else I many need to consider. So thank you for the ideas to think on!!!

Hello,

where are you based? I can’t anything like this near me!

thanks

I think it's a great idea

Be prepared to be regularly investigated to see if you are an illegal school. Even if you pass one investigation they may be back to see if you have changed at all.

Also you will need to give thought as to how you keep parents up to date with their Childs progress. Most of them will have to report to their LA and they will be expected to have a deep knowledge of what is going on.

Most parents opt to delegate their responsibiltity to educate their child to a school and as the school will be run by an LA or private organisation they can realistically assume the staff are qualified and know that there are checks on how the school is run and the progress their child is making is monitored and can relax and take no part in this. However, EHE parents will be unable to delegate their responsibility to you but will themselves wholly keep the responsibility for checking you are doing what you say you are - and are acting in an appropriate way and delivering an appropriate education. You will need to be covering PE, Art, music as well so will need to plan how that is going to happen. And they will need to be able to prove all this to the LA.

You may find some families who want to do this but the cost and the risk will be prohibitive to most people.

I have been in HE for 30+ years and have seen hundreds of people try to set up tutor groups for HE children or think they have a wonderful idea to cater to the HE community but the vast majority fail. I would give you that strong warning before you go ahead and do this. I have not seen anything quite like this - and there may be a very good reason for that.