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Home ed

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Parents who home ed their kids: Tell me why I should (or shouldn’t) do it

3 replies

Spookygoose · 08/09/2025 12:01

My DD has just turned 4, she’ll be due to start reception next year, but I’ve been thinking more and more about home schooling. She doesn’t have any additional needs and is confident and outgoing. I think she’d do great at a regular primary school, but I’ve found a home school programme in my village that takes kids 5-11 (all in one group together) for 3 full days a week. It’s very child-focused, with a heavy emphasis on outdoor education like forest school, learning about nature, hiking etc (which I would love for her). I think it’s similar to Montessori without the extortionate fees. The other two days I would focus on reading, writing and maths with her (although they do do some of this at the home school programme too). I could make it work financially and with my job. I’m worried though, that she won’t have the opportunity to make a lot of friends (the group is small and very mixed ages). Also worried that it won’t prepare her for secondary school if she spends her primary years not in a traditional educational setting. I’m wondering if anyone can tell me what your home schooled kids social lives are like - do they have lots of friends? How does homeschooling benefit them over a traditional school? Are they ahead or behind academically? Why did you choose to homeschool? Do you think my plan is a good idea? And just to hear the general pros and cons would be great thank you!

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 08/09/2025 12:06

I would ask first find more out about the setting. Is it registered with ofsted? (I believe an education group needs to be if over a certain numbers). I would also visit all the local schools on their open day to see what they offer too.

Octavia64 · 08/09/2025 12:11

I mean it does sound like you have found essentially a part time school.

a small group that focuses on outdoor education sounds great at age 4 or 5.

i suspect that by age 7 or 8 she will have outgrown it.

one of the good things about home Ed is the flexibility - so you can join lots of different groups doing lots of different things.

my DD was home edded as a teen for a while.

socially home ed is fine as long as you make the effort to get out there and help them make friends.

I’d be concerned about this group - it is effectively a school. What will you do if your daughter is bullied? It’s a lot harder to pull her out if they are providing three whole days.

Ellebelieve · 24/09/2025 13:12

Op I was on your thread re you and ex having both applied and got placed at different schools.

Did she start? At which school?

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