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Home ed

New to this- have some questions!

5 replies

Postcards · 15/07/2013 22:13

We have not definitely decided to HE but am seriously considering it. I will explain a little of our situation and would be grateful for any input into this. I also have a few questions.

DD is due to go into reception in Sep. I am having serious wobbles about her going. I am sure a very small part of this is the normal PFB starting school anxieties. But there is a lot more to it. DD is inquisitive, anxious to learn. She learns in a very specific way. Something sparks her interest and then she wants to find out all about it, in great detail. She struggles with the free-flowing, independent activities at preschool and likes structure, adult input. She plays beautifully with other children when she chooses to, but is equally happy with her own company. She is quirky, funny and lovely. We have a school place for sep at a school I felt was the nearest fit for her but even so, I am not sure. I can see the reception year being a struggle for her. I want her to learn at the pace she enjoys and not be restricted. I also feel funny about the freedom school takes from us- no authorised days off, fines.

However I don't know enough about HE to make a decision. I think my first questions are:

  • how would I inform council/schools I would home educate?
  • can you be on a waiting list for a school and also home educate?
  • what checks are made on your arrangements and how often?
  • I work part-time from home but can tailor my hours to suit. Would this be ok?


  • are there any websites you would recommend as a starting point?


Thanks for reading!
OP posts:
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bebanjo · 15/07/2013 22:44

Hi, first off google education otherwise and ed-yourself, these sights will reassure you that you don not have to inform any one IF your child has never been to school, you simply decline the place.
Once a child is register at a school then you need to de-register, that is not a complicated business, you simply Send letter to the school telling them to remove your child's name from there register. You do not need permission to do this it is your right. The school then by law has to inform the LEA and they will get in touch. You do not have to see the LEA but you do have to send them somthing, more info on education otherwise, but don't worry.
My DD is 7 in nov, nas never been to school and is doing fine, we had friends over today and they all played in the paddling pool.
See if there is a yahoo group for your areal
You may have a good LEA, you need to find out, you can ring your LEA and ask to speak to there home ed team, you don't need to give them any info just ask them stuff, if they are good you may want there advice.
HTH.

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FionaJNicholson · 16/07/2013 06:19

bebanjo has already recommended my website edyourself

You could delay entry to school for a year by home edding for the first year. Though this might mean that you don't get a place at preferred school next year if they get full from this first wave.

You don't have to tell the council you are starting

You do need to say to the school that you aren't needing the place. You can do that formally by writing to them but you could also go in and chat and see if they would let her go in at the second year.

The downside with that is you may still not want a place. The presumption is that a parent will take a place as soon as they are offered one, not defer entry. This is why sometimes people who have been abroad and then come back can find it hard to get into the school system at a time of THEIR choosing rather than the system's choosing, if that makes sense.

Depends on your area as to how a waiting list applies, also as to whether the school is its own admissions authority (eg if its a voluntary aided church school) or if it's all done centrally by the council.

Your council website will have something like a parents booklet or advice or information with all this info about in-year admissions and waiting lists.

Home ed doesn't have to take place during "school hours" so part time working from home can be fitted round.

Your daughter sounds very suited to home ed, by the way!

(I have a 20 year old home ed right through)

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Postcards · 16/07/2013 10:45

Thank you both. I am going to look at the websites you mentioned. I am sure that home education would suit her, I think it would be useful to know what groups are in my area so will also look into that.

One other thing- how, in my case, would I be able to convince people that it is not a case of dreading my child starting school in the first place? I know I don't need to convince or explain myself to anyone but that's easier said than done when close family would be very puzzled by the decision...

OP posts:
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bebanjo · 16/07/2013 15:52

I try to be non-committal about the whol thing and say things like, "this is is suiting us fine right now and were all happy" or "we know where the schools are if we feel like giving one a go"
And if you feel you need to be defend what your doing you could gently remind folk that many country's don't send there children to school tell there 6 or 7. But try to stick to being all about you and it working rather than school being wrong IYSWIM.

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chocolatecrispies · 18/07/2013 00:04

A good book to start with is How Children Learn at Home by Alan Thomas. I just said to people that we had decided ds was not going to start school until he was at least 7 and we would carry on as before.

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