at wits end

[samkearsey]

i am desperate to here from any home schoolers as i am having problems with my 5 year old who has just started school but she feels she learns more at home when i teach her than when she is at school, she has asthma and had 2 weeks off school and i did work with her at home which we both enjoyed doing!
we are home schooling her from year 4 because the school system is not very good locally.
my husband has had enough at the school with comments being made about her asthma, i have been told to not listen much to her concerns about school which is very upsetting!
would really like to hear if anyone else has had any similar experience or advice on what to do
thankyou

Hi, it sounds like the school are not dealing very well with her problems, and them telling you not to listen to her is not a great sign!

If you are planning to HE her from Y4 anyway, and you are all positive about HE as an option, then it certainly sounds like it would be a good plan. Can I ask what you were hoping she would get out of school at the younger years? And whether you think she's getting it?

That might help you think about whether there are advantages to school which are important to you, or whether it's not worth the negatives.

If you are going to home educate her from year 4, what is stopping you from bringing that forward and doing so now?

Have you come across Muddle Puddle the website for home ed families with young children-and the corresponding Yahoo Early Years HE list??

thanks for your responses

all we want is for her to be happy, like any parent does she loved preschool and did not see this happening we want her to enjoy being a kid as they grow up too quickly now

i think i felt she had to go to school as i only looked in to it in nov, and the school is competitive to get in to and she had automatic acceptance

will def look at those sights thanks

Just because there is a lot of competition to get in does not necessarily mean it is right for her or for you both as parents.

It's great that you know what she looks like when she loved pre school, that is something to compare with.

What comments have been made about her asthma? I'd suggest writing them down so you have some written data to consider.

I'd also write down the concerns your daughter has about the school.

We have been home educating for 4.5 weeks so far. It has been a traumatic time working out what to do, deregistering and now gradually recovering the trust of our son.

Follow your heart and use your head

If it's any help, my DD(8) loved her preschool but when she moved into reception it was a different story. Kids aren't allowed to be kids anymore and TBH what would your lo gain from being in school if she isnt enjoying it, or if she feels she learns more at home? I have 5 at home and no plans to put any of them into school- well unless a lottery win falls our way and we can put them into summerhill
We've been HEing since end of Christmas term last year and it's our second go- we put them back into school for a year but it didn't work out. We love it, they love it. Why not give it a go now?

thankyou thats great its confirming what my heart says and after a lot of talking with her today she says its what she wants so i think that says it all!

how much trouble did the lea give you? how do you cope with younger siblings as well my son is 25 months and my other daughter is 16 weeks?

LEA are not allowed to give you trouble.

You send the form deregistration letter (does that thread needing bumping again?) and that's it. They just aren't allowed to try to make you change your mind or anything - it's your legal responsibility where and how your child is educated.

Do we need a "contacts with LEAs" information thread? Would that be helpful to you? Because your contact with them can be anything from asking them for advice with curriculums and inviting them round for tea once a fortnight, to sending them an educational philosophy which explains, among other things, that your child's education would be adversely affected by them being assessed or tested by LEA employees so you won't be wanting any directed face to face contact thanks. That's the two extremes, I think. But it's your call - you decide what kind of relationship to have with the LEA, if any.

emma that thread would be great thank you

she is now saying she has abdominal pains which go upto her chest not sure whats going on so no school today!

thanks again

Just an update we deregistered from school this morning and my old girl is back again happy and enjoying life again

thanks for all your replies

welcome to the lovely relaxed happy world of home ed!

That's great, it sounds like you've done the right thing. Enjoy it!

Welcome