Where to start with home Ed?

[Burpeelover]

Hi all,
My DD 11, started secondary school in September. She really isn’t enjoying it, struggles with friendship groups, shyness and seems very anxious. She is stuck to me like glue at home and seems to need constant reassurance. We have spoken about homeschool a lot, she is very set on the fact that she would like to start. I would like to give her to the end of this school year and start from September, mostly so I can be fully prepared for the transition when we start.
I am a single mum, running my own business and would be able to reduce my hours if I can find the extra staff.
I know I need to email the school to officially deregister, I’ve also read that the LA will contact me - what does this involve?
I am also looking for good online resources to help with her learning? Ideally courses, English, Maths, Science. Where would be the best place to go for this?

She enjoys cooking, does anyone else’s home ed children do external cooking courses, is this an option?

I know GCSE’s aren’t mandatory for her to do if home educated, but what would others advise? Would it be better to get them or not? I am struggling to see how she could go on to further education without them and would she be seen as different if she joined college at 16 and had been homeschooled.

A larger proportion of home educated children as ND, I'd imagine especially in France as it is much harder to home ed there unless you have a health issue/disability or problems at school.
Often those children were withdrawn from school because they were socially awkward or had SEN though, it's not caused by home education.

Your experience doesn't sound much like mine in terms of socialising or cultural references though, it's not like home educated children are separated from school children and never exposed to Stranger Things or football or Minecraft 😂

Join the face book group HEFA home Ed for all lots of infor and take your time finding out how your child learns. Lots and lots of options for resources. Don’t rush out and buy lots of text books and enjoy the process. Find your local home Ed community many groups on FB. We took our 12yr old out 18mths ago and they are so much happier and now on a glide path to do a variety of iGCSE level exams & work some early and sone later than the norm as we can spread them out.