Home education

[loodledoo]

My DH is really keen for me to home educate our DD, she’s currently only 18 months so we’re a way off but I’d be really interested in others experiences of home educating their children in the UK. I’d love to know what a typical day looks like and what resources are available to you in your local area to help with home educating, such as groups with other home educated children, and what made you decide home educate your children/ what you think the benefits are, please. I’m looking into this now because if we do decide to home educate I’d like to do some sort of home preschool prior to her being primary school age. Thank you so much in advance.

It's becoming more and more popular to home educate out of choice, because of dissatisfaction with available schools / the system as a whole, rather than disability or neurodiversity.

He has concerns about the school system as a whole. The decision for me to be a stay at home mum was a joint one which I am very happy with. From the research I’ve done it seems like there is a large community of people who choose to home educate their children to provide a different style of education, rather than as result of the child struggling with school.

This is so helpful, thank you, and really informative. I think you’re one of the first to actually answer the question posted, thank you!

I haven't read all the responses - however, I teach A Levels and I'm a private tutor.
We typically allow HE'd on our study programme with Eng Lan, Maths and a Science - if achieved at GCSE grade 6.

Ninety five percent do not progress to 2nd year, post mocks.

This is because they have to select three subjects to make up a full study programme - and are woefully unprepared for the rigour of the demands of the qualification.
Cramming to pass GCSE via rote learning of past papers (which I know happens, as I've tutored HE'd kids) negates to anticipate the massive jump up required at L3/A Level
In addition, FE is brutal for those who, for the first time, have to experience secondary socialisation...

Lastly, I am a First Aider - I would not dream of rocking up to my local hospital, presenting myself to A&E, and thinking I could replace the qualified HCPs and do a better job...

Gosh how many home ed A Level students are you seeing?

Thank you for the information. With regards to your last comment, it feels a bit unnecessary given that I’ve only asked for some information…

Quite a lot - wouldn't bothered to have commented, otherwise?

Just seems very unusual to have so many very academic home ed students going to your school for sixth form. How many per year?

Your last comment says everything, really.

OP, you'll encounter a few teachers and lecturers in your journey who take it as a personal affront that you're home educating. Devaluing the teaching profession, like a first aider pretending to be a doctor, etc etc.

Don't point out to them that a huge number of teachers are now home educating their children; they hate that.

My wider point is this: you must consider FE - it's a HUGE step up to L3 and we are seeing year on year candidates who simply cannot cope with the rigour of A Levels.
Imposing parental Ideology (however well meaning) does not serve 16 year olds, well

Read my post again...

I read it and responded to it 🙂

How many are you seeing?

🤷🏼‍♀️

Sorry, I'll be clearer.

Lastly, I am a First Aider - I would not dream of rocking up to my local hospital, presenting myself to A&E, and thinking I could replace the qualified HCPs and do a better job...

OP, ignore attitudes like this, they're talking bollocks.

I'm a home edder of 15+ years with a child in their second year of A Levels after studying for GCSES at home. Said child is absolutely flourishing at college and had never set foot in an educational establishment before. For one, they're not burnt out like their friends who survived the school system and they're still full of enthusiasm for their subjects.

OP, if you want a really good quality education perhaps consider looking into other educational philosophies such as Charlotte Mason - you can read all of her books for free on https://amblesideonline.org/
Or perhaps look at a classical education too. The home ed community leans towards unschooling in the UK, I did try it but it's not for us, but just bear that in mind especially in the FB groups.

Thank you very much for the information.

Last year's cohort we had 7 (of 120)
none of which progressed to year two of A Levels
This year we have 11 (of 124)

Glad to hear it - sincerely

@Amblealongsideis this a large FE environment?

Yes, 6th form college 1000+ kids.

ETA they're not the only home ed one there either in their second year.

That's actually really sad. Unfortunately, I have seen a tendency to let FE colleges pick up the slack at 16yrs+ with some home edders.
However, it's very complicated with teens not being supported at schools and coming to home ed through no choice of their own. Our community tries to support these poor children and their parents who've been massively failed.

I understand, and I'm not trying to be objectionable - I'm just trying to highlight the wider issue...
Of course you'll have posters advocating how well they think their own educational ideology has been successful - they are hardly going to say otherwise?
My post was merely pointing out the reality, based on my experience

No EHder is ever going to acknowledge they may have made a mistake, to do so highlights the risk taken

Go well 🙌🏼

First rule of home education is don't ask mumsnet!

None of my children have attended school, my eldest has excellent iGCSEs & has gone off to college. Where, contrary to pp comments, she is flourishing. She has been nominated & selected as class representative, is finding that her knowledge of the subjects is broader than her class mates & is being asked to help them. She's made friends, joined the gym etc

It's very easy to assess where your kids are compared to school standards although I think only important at times that you might expect them to go to school/want to sit exams.

None of my children were "taught" to read, I read to them & taught them letters & I have book worms who love reading & all read at a much older age than their actual age from the age of 7.

Our days have changed as they've grown.

I think the only disadvantage we have found is that their friends are more geographically spread than they might have been via school, this means I am still driving them further than I would like BUT the older ones are really good on buses! However that's a geographic issue due to where we live more than anything I think.

It really isn't as big a decision as it feels like it is now, it's a series of small decisions. A bit like no one with a newborn can imagine breastfeeding a 3 yr old but it feels totally normal when that baby is 3, exam centres & external candidates are terrifying thoughts when you have a HE 10 yr old but it's fine when they're 15!

Enjoy your baby💐

Agree - however, in our case, exclusively HE based on Ideology