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Home education resources for parents considering home ed because of Coronavirus

36 replies

RhubarbTea · 02/03/2020 19:39

Right then, take two of this thread...

I'm a home educator and someone said they'd appreciate a thread on home ed resources for those parents who are considering taking their kids out of school for a while because of the coronavirus outbreak.

My child has always been home ed so I'm not the most knowledgable about the current legalities across the UK of removing a child from school, perhaps some other H.Eers could post below any info which might be useful for parents considering this.

Please also post educational resources, free or paid, which you have tried and tested and found to be useful. I'll start with a few of my faves:

Conquer Maths. Paid. Utterly amazing and goes from Reception level all the way up to age 16/18 I think. It's really useful even if you have a kid in school or after your child goes back to school. Also features times table shoot em up game which is like space invaders but with times tables!

Khan Academy. Free, good alternative to Conquer Maths and covers many other subjects as well as just maths. The English Grammar videos are quite funny.

Crash Course videos on Youtube. Free. Aimed at older children and teenagers, parents of younger or middle sized kids may wish to check individual vids through first to make sure they are age appropriate. A treasure trove of learning. DS likes the History of Gaming playlist.

IXL - paid. We use this a lot, it follows the UK national curriculum and covers Maths and English up to year 13.

BBC Bitesize. Free. An excellent site which covers a multitude of subjects although not in any great depth. Intended as a supplement to other learning for kids in school, but very useful.

We also use The Works as a great resource for cheap workbooks for Maths, English and Science. They are good for craft paper and art stuff too at a pinch.

OP posts:
RhubarbTea · 02/03/2020 19:43

@DominicCummingsForehead new thread for home ed resources Smile

OP posts:
Tinnednut · 02/03/2020 21:01

Great list!
My book suggestion from the other thread is particularly good for those planning on returning to school afterwards.
www.amazon.co.uk/What-Every-Parent-Needs-Know-ebook/dp/B00JPUMH7K/ref=sr_1_4?crid=X5IXD5MVSKWX&keywords=what+every+parent+needs+to+know&sprefix=What+ever%2Caps%2C326&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1583175751&sr=8-4

I know a home edding former teacher who recommends White Rose for maths whiterosemaths.com

Others really rate MEP a free maths education based on national curriculum. Despite being British this is also popular with some American home schoolers.
www.cimt.org.uk/projects/mep/?fref=gc&dti=1545365635703356

Jolly phonics have some free resources
www.jollylearning.co.uk/free-resources/

IfYouCanKeepYourHead1234 · 03/03/2020 07:43

Here are a few more:

www.thinkersmeetup.com/ - live classes for small groups of children over Zoom - includes languages, science, maths etc

www.whizz.com - paid for but free trial available - Maths tutorials and quizzes; very visual

www.themathsfactor.com/ - another Maths programme - you can trial free for 14 days

readingeggs.co.uk/ and mathseeds.com/ - paid for but free trial available - great for younger children

artventure.com.au/ - paid for but free trial available - prerecorded art lessons

dragonbox.com/products/numbers - iPad maths apps; great for younger children

Neverenoughcoffee · 03/03/2020 11:06

If more than year or two from GCSEs, I would say have a look around your local area. Go and do the museums, the gardens, the English heritage and national trust places, the libraries, country walks while they're quiet.
Pretend you're tourists in your area and visit things from that point of view.
Go to art galleries and choose the pieces you'd take home to put in your living room and the things you wouldn't want.
Learn as much as possible about local history and geography. Go to the theatre.
Figure out how to make learning as hands on and multi dimensional as possible.

Neverenoughcoffee · 03/03/2020 11:42

And obviously I mean not in crowded places.

bellinisurge · 03/03/2020 21:07

Thank you soo much for this thread. It's a subject I'm very ignorant about. I don't homeschool and am really conscious that I need to have some idea in place should it be necessary.
I bought some KS3 revision aid books for dd (year 8) but I really think that would be dry and dull. I'm familiar with Khan Academy but there are some great resource ideas on here.

Snugglepumpkin · 04/03/2020 00:28

Please don't rush out & buy resources before checking with your child or the school first.

Quite a lot of schools nowadays already use programs in some lessons & have existing subscriptions which may already have your child on them.

If a school has shut the LA is still legally responsible for providing a full time education to registered pupils.

It is likely that they will have children log in to their class programs to do work which would cost you nothing more than an internet connection.
Alternatively if you contact the school they may already be making other plans.
It probably won't be enough work for a full school day, but it will be the work that keeps them on track for their curriculums in school.

If you deregister, it is your legal duty from day 1 to provide your children with a full time, broad & balanced education suitable to their age, aptitudes & abilities with no financial (or any other kind really except from the community) help at all.

I have been an EHE parent since the 90s.
My oldest son who is in his 30s was EHE.
He is highly qualified, very well paid, has never been unemployed & has international recognition for his work in a field he loves so I can't be that bad at it.

MY youngest son is EHE (his choice) but he's only at primary so who knows what he will do in the future but he is doing very well academically & thriving.

I genuinely believe EHE is the best education for some, but not all children.
I know many children who thrive in school who would not be suited to EHE so I'm not anti-school at all.

but...

EHE is BLOODY HARD WORK for parents.
It can also be very time consuming & particularly for those with little experience can be very expensive.
You cannot just hand your child a worksheet or log them into a site & leave them to it.

Please consider discussing alternatives with the school first before taking such a drastic step.

Once you have deregistered, schools have no legal obligation to keep that place open for you.
You may find that 2-4 weeks later when you want to put them back in school you are offered the worst school in the most inconvenient location & if you turn it down you will be stuck paying to EHE because if you refuse places the LA is not responsible for your childs education, you are.

bellinisurge · 04/03/2020 06:18

I have no plans to deregister and I would certainly hope that the school would have some short term online back up plan. But given this is a parenting website and we have a number of teachers on here including senior teachers, I've not seen any "yes, we have a plan and this is what we'd do".
Last night , using a recent work comedy of password problem of my own as a conversation starter, I asked dd if she knew her school passwords. Hard to tell whether the login she knows by heart is for her profile or her school computer. I'd hope she could log in remotely but I'm not sure.
I'd fully expect major tooling around and doing anything but school stuff if stuck at home. But that would only last so long especially if dh and I are working at home on our office laptops. I'd want her to be occupied with something educational even if it was in dribs and drabs. She's y8.

DominicCummingsForehead · 06/03/2020 11:29

Thank you for this @RhubarbTea I am enjoying homeschooling so far!! I have workbooks plus subscribed to twinkl, still getting my head around it all but food so far...had a look at khan academy quickly, but is it all American (no british NC) x

RhubarbTea · 06/03/2020 12:03

@DominicCummingsForehead yes I think Khan Academy is all US curriculum, which is partly why I prefer Conquer Maths as then we know where we are supposed to be. But as a free resource Khan Academy is really amazing, there is so much on it.

OP posts:
DominicCummingsForehead · 06/03/2020 15:19

Thanks @RhubarbTea I will have a closer look Smile

BanKittenHeels · 06/03/2020 15:38

Thank you so much! Desperately needed this thread.

DominicCummingsForehead · 06/03/2020 15:54

Are there any blogs that any one would recommend x

armsandtheman · 06/03/2020 15:59

Thanks for the list. Really handy for if school closes and I was looking last night as we have a suspected case locally so it's a small possibility. Great to be prepared

littlemissmuffins · 08/03/2020 16:11

Could I ask - how much does IXL membership cost?? Thanks

Snugglepumpkin · 08/03/2020 18:47

IXL on a monthly basis (cheaper on annual) is either £7.99 pcm for first child if you pick one subject i.e. English or Maths.
It's £12.99 a month for both.

Add £2 per month for each additional child after that so e.g
Maths for 1 - £7.99
Maths for 2 - £9.99 & so on

Or
Maths & English for 1 = £12.99
Maths & English for 2 = £14.99 & so on.

pirateparker · 10/03/2020 17:21

F

preponderings · 16/03/2020 20:23

Any tips on managing enforced home ed for the DC (schools are closed) when you also have a DH on enforced home office?

DH will need laptop and the dining table and the DC to be quiet Hmm

EstellaHanclay · 16/03/2020 20:30

Fab info here. Thanks!

BigGillsBigMac · 17/03/2020 19:01

Thankyou for this! Appreciate the links

MeganSparkle · 17/03/2020 19:27

Thanks! This is really helpful

RhubarbTea · 17/03/2020 19:31

@preponderings I think you'll find the rule is, DH should work in the bedroom and the upstairs can stay quiet - noise cancelling headphones if needed. Children can study and play downstairs.
Why shouldn't he make any sacrifices?! Grin

Glad people are finding the resources useful, please continue to post links or apps if you have found them helpful.

OP posts:
preponderings · 17/03/2020 20:07

RhubarbTea We live in a flat. One main room with the bathroom and bedrooms coming off it.

WwfLeopard · 17/03/2020 20:18

Thanks, really useful post, will be starting some home Ed tomorrow. Wish me luck with a moody teenager

Leithwalk · 17/03/2020 20:22

Loads here - more than you will ever need (hopefully)and for all ages.

chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/resources-list-for-home-learning