Please help - I'm about to take my daughter out of school and home school her... but I'm totally new to this.

[Ginismedicinal]

What do I say to her school? How do I word the email informing them? She's 14 and would be going into year 10 in September. School has let her down repeatedly. Her mental health has declined enormously, I've had enough, so I'm doing whatever I need to do. I'm nervous though - I've no idea what I'm doing. Any advice or help would be much appreciated 🙏

Are there any colleges that do an early college transfer you could look at @EroomC ?

I'm still looking but although they say 14-16programmes once you start reading up they all talk about once the child reaches 16. We have a utc college and it's amazing but you start either Yr 9 or 12.

Find the homeschooling groups in your local area. They should be able to offer advice on informing school and the LEA. I would work with your LEA who can be very helpful.

If you're lucky, as we were, there will be a local home Ed group that offers tutoring and GCSE provision. If not you can register via Wolsey Hall Oxford or similar for online tutoring but you will need to register with a local exam centre for the exams.

Many home ed kids like my DD get all their GCSE's this way without issue. My dd is now back at school in sixth form and going great. Home schooling was the best option for us after severe bullying and the school doing nothing to help. Ignore the people I helpfully telling you all the reasons why you shouldn't do it. When it comes to your child's mental health, that has to come first. Good luck on your home Ed journey.

I am a home educator. I believe nothing is more important than mh. GCSEs can be done any time. Or your son may be able to do an online course at home or whatever suits his style of learning.
Or school may work with you to give him work.

If you withdraw him school and the LA have no more responsibility for him so you are on your own.
Some colleges run courses for home ed kids of that age.🎉

What region are you in? Could link you some resources.

What does your son think about home ed as a possibility? Would he be willing to work on his GCSEs independently? You don't have to do them or you don't have to do loads or you could concentrate on the core subjects and what he likes he is half way through them anyway. If he's behind staying at school isn't going to help him he will feel worse about himself.

@EroomC for both your sakes I would. He will be happier X good luck x