Has anyone made flexi-schooling work?

[Bodenbabe]

How do you cope with having to follow the curriculum and keep them up to a certain standard? I don't think I would like to HE fully autonomously but I would like to at least have an element of that - is that possible with flexi-schooling or is all your time taken up making sure she keeps up with the class/curriculum work?

Also, how does your DC fit in with the other children socially - if they aren't there at lunchtimes/playtimes are the other children less inclined to play with them? Are they sen as 'the weird kid who goes home at lunchtime'?!

And do you do a few full days a week, or mornings/afternoons only? I presume you have to stick to set times, or can you say "DC will do mornings this week, afternoons next week"? I guess not, as the teacher would have to plan ahead for who is there?

Very grateful if anyone can help! Thanks!

DS1 flexischooled in reception and year 1. Reception was OK but year 1 was a bit of a disaster because the teacher was really not that supportive and there were various issues with her. He did 2 full days and 1 morning as that suited us.

Then the new Head announced that she wanted him and his brother, who was about to move from nursery to reception on a flexi-schooling basis, full-time by the end of the year. We gave them both the choice and they both chose to be full-time home ed. I've found it much easier TBH. They are now 12 and 9.

I don't know that the flexi-schooling itself caused problems with his socialising but he didn't really have many friends at school. Having said that, neither did I at that age and I was full-time!!

How sad that the new head was so narrow-minded. But it sounds like it was the best thing for you in the long run.

Anyone else?

Yeah - we flexi school but then the staff and Head have been really great and supportive so I think that is key.

We started with DD in year 4 - she came home 2 afternoons a week. Teacher and head supportive. When she moved into year 5 I changed to to one full day a week which varied according to my work commitments. We have taken her out for year 6 but have retained links with school so offically she is flexi still although at home 95% of the time. It means we can still access some things through school - Xmas play, G&T workshops, trips etc. Works great for us.

DS also flexi - he does one day a week at home at the moment in year 4. No plans to increase or change that as he enjoys school!

Sorry - just realise I haven't answered your questions. How do I cope with keeping them up with the curriculum? Sorry if it sounds bad but I think it depends how able your child is...both mine are above average so it hasn't really been an issue - they have also learned so much at home that sooner or later it has been relevant in the classroom.

Again socially I think it depends on the child. One child never really had that many friends at school even when there full time - the other is really popular so whether there full time or not doesn't matter!

I think these things depend on other factors MORE than whether you flexi or not.

thanks, flipper - so good it works for you! Re. the curriculum, I have no doubts that DD would keep up but I'm not sure if I would! What I really meant was is it difficult to find out what's in the curriculum and think of interesting ways to teach it? And is all your time taken up with curriculum work or is there spare time to do other things (trips out, own projects etc.)?

I think it is fine if they are a popular, confident DC who makes friends easily and are bright enough to keep up. If they are shy or reserved and have problems keeping up, it gives the worst of both worlds and you are better to opt for one or the other.

Just been perusing over the HE boards, I've been wondering about this flexi-schooling thing (didn't even know it was called that until today!) - and I was wondering how it works legally?

I mean, I know you can take your child out of school for full-time HE legally, but does a school HAVE to allow you to flexi-school? Or are they allowed to say no, it's either full-time or nothing?

TIA

Flexi-schooling is at the Head's discretion (although some LAs put pressure on them to say 'no'). It doesn't affect their attendance statistics as your child is recorded as 'Educated Offsite'. The school receives full funding for the child (but doesn't pass any of the money on to you), even if they only attend 1 afternoon a week!

Tinuviel - so if the school my DS is at won't say boo to the LEA, but will just do what they're told, am I buggered?

You can legally take your ds out of school and home ed him - he sounds miserable poor thing! Flexi schooling is down to the individual head I am afraid and yours doesnt sound too great!

You need to deregister him from school otherwise if he still on the register and not attending it is classed as truncy which of course is against the law.

Google "schoolhouse" - its an organisation based in scotland to help home educators and will tell you all you need to know.

Best of luck
x

schoolhouse are your guardian angels.

Be careful reading HE website advice, just because the law about deregistering is different in scotland from in England. School house have all the gen, and I'll bump up for you the relevant thread here on MN...

You have the right to Home Ed - however as he is now registered in a school in Scotland, you can't just do as you could in England and deregister him. You have to ask for permission from the council education department to take him out of school to home ed. They will ask you to give details of how you plan to make sure he gets a suitable education, and have the right to refuse permission if they are not satisfied. Do look at Schoolhouse for the details - it is different from England so the advice you see on here may not always apply.

You don't have the right to flexi-school - no-one does, though you can ask in either country, it's purely up to the head if they decide to go along with it.

And, as the school says, they can make trouble about truancy if you just don't send him in, so you are best to go through the proper legal channels to cover yourself.

well... legally you do have the right to flexi-school, but the school are not legally obliged to accommodate it. so it amounts to the same thing. what i mean is you can ask but you might not get!

we're in fife,scotland. i was going to take my DS out on a friday and do field trips and other interesting and educational things. with the intention of 'complimenting' the curriculum, but actually reducing the amount of in-class programming learning, and increasing his real-world experience (which is important...as that's where he lives!) outwith mad crazy holidays and weekends.

our intention is to HE both DCs full time, but as DS is enjoying school at the min thought this may be a good comprimise. however another parent jumped in before me and has asked permission to take her DS out 2 days. the outcome isn't looking favourable. but i'm going to suggest it anyway.

the school's worried he'll be isolated from the others?!? and are concerned about what he'll miss out on (rather than what he'll gain from it. so much more surely!!). i think people assume home ed (or flexi-school) means sitting in a small room in a house with no friends being lonely and sad all day.with only your wierd and derranged mother for company. when it means anything but. it means being free and finding learning experiences in all areas of life!! mixing with the HE community, your local community, your friends and family, etc. being free to choose what projects interest them and finding great places to visit. even if it's just the beach or forest or observatory or gallery! i think i'm talking myself into full time HE!!