Has anyone got any experience of flexi-education?

[Snazzygoldfish]

Just that really. DD's outdoor nursery advocate this for reception year and beyond. I can see the benefits but worry about her making friends etc.

Would be two days at nursery/three days at school.

I love the ideal of flexi schooling my DD, with 1 day a week at home and 4 at school. There is a forest school for home educators nearby so I could take her there, or to other home educator groups. I am a teacher (albeit of older children) so do have some idea of how to teach her. My issue would be her feeling different to her peers and resenting that.

I’m not really familiar with the term, I only know that my local school won’t allow it.

Out of interest, it seems a bit convenient for the nursery to advocate flexi schooling when they stand to gain financially from it. I can’t help but wonder if it also preys on parents’ fears around the transition to school - “you don’t have to send them full time, you can stay with us!”

I don't see how it would work from a school's point of view. Maybe reception wouldn't be too bad but it would be a pita further up to have kids constantly missing days. Also, how would it work with absences, pupil funding etc? Is it a state nursery or are they advocating it because you will continue to pay for a place there?

You have to get permission from the headteacher, give them a proposal of what you will do and it is usually reviewed regularly. The child is registered as "dual registration" so would not be penalised for the absences. The school gets full funding, but I imagine you still have to pay for the nursery places as the 3 years + funding no longer applies. I agree it does seem a bit convenient for the nursery to recommend it and therefore get paid.

Thank you for your views. I would have to pay for the nursery sessions but I really don't think this is the motivation behind them advocating it. They really are excellent and always full.

I think I could get permission from the head due to dds circumstances but I really really don't know what would be in her best interest.

DS did flexischooling as in 4 days school 1 day home based up until beginning year 3, we would have continued but we moved. It was really about taking the pressure off one day a week and allowing him to decompress ( so nursery wouldn't have worked for us). In our experience 5 days in a setting is just too much. Friendships were fine and he is attaining fine. He did about 3 days in reception.

DS3's school mentioned this as a possibility for him. (He has SN and school is not going well)

It is possible to get LA agreement so it wouldn't impact on attendance. The school's idea would be for him to attend 2 days with me Home Ed 3 days. But they would set the work and check I was doing it properly.

We won't be going down that route, either a full-time placement or complete home ed.

I should add DS3 is currently in Yr2

The only parent I've known who wanted to do that was definitely of the lentil-weaving variety. Doesn't mean it's wrong though.

Lentil weaving

We have a child at our school who is part-time due to his parents' choice. I'm not sure what their motivation is but it definitely makes him the odd one out in that he misses half of the classes, half of the breaks and he us kind of famous for being part time . I don't think it does him any favours.

The difficulty is, if a school agrees to flexischooling, they are still responsible for the child's progress in all areas. Whilst some parents may do an excellent job of home educating, and ensure that their child makes good progress, there are others who won't. Schools can't afford to let progress slip as they will be measured on progress by Ofsted.

Is your dd summer born? If so, why not just keep her at nursery for a whole year and then start her in Reception a year late?

I honk it’s down to the local authority but I don’t think many schools would allow it.