Six months of home ed...

[TheRunawayTrain]

We are moving home after a year in the US, to DH's birth country (where we have lived for about fifteen years before this year). Have been notified by the school that the places they can take aren't available for October, it will be six whole months until they can access their places. We don't have a legal led to stand on and the school have given good reasons for why it has changed but I'm still furious! DD1 will be going to another school (due to age) so is going to school when we move, thankfully.

We have got a definitive place for March 2014 (feels so long away!) so six months or so of no education in school from the date planned. DC involved are 10, 8 and 6.

So...tips on temp homeschool? Joint business so can take time out to do it with two hours extra for work. DH will shoulder more work. We hope it will work as in the business (in tourism) it's fairly even and more prep than physical. Eek.

So... what I basically need is ideas...what equipment do you have? When do your DC wake up/start school/stop school or is it less structured? I want them to enjoy school- they were so excited about seeing old friends of theirs so this is sad for them. We are in a perfect place for trips and I have some project ideas but I think I'm imagining a fun perfect world not actual hard work, which it will be!

[Saracen]

Hi Runaway,

Not sure I've understood. Let me see if I've got it. You're moving back home to a country which is not in the UK. The kids used to go to school back home before you all went to spend a year in the US. Is that right?

So I guess you are already quite familiar with the school system they are going into, and there are no language barriers for them.

The approach you take depends on many things. Are there any particular areas you feel any of your dc need to work on so they will be ready to fit back in at school? Do you want to take advantage of the opportunity to explore things which they are interested in, which they won't get to do so much at school? Do you know the local home education laws so that you can see what restrictions there may be on your style of home ed? Or do those laws not apply to you because you are awaiting a school place?

Have you been in touch with local home educators in your country? Their tips might be more relevant than ours. They can suggest curricula which are compatible with the local school curricula, and perhaps you can go to home ed activities in your area while you are waiting for school. If this problem of having to wait a long time for school places is a common one then there will be other people who have been in the same boat as you.

Tell us more about your dc and what they actually enjoy doing and how you feel about it all. If you dream of day trips and projects then go for it. It will not necessarily be hard work. Many people find it comes very easily because you don't have to prepare formal lessons if you don't want to.

[Salbertina]

Hi OP, not done HE yet but lurking around here as in similarish in between situation overseas with gap to plug. Theres so much online - check on here also Khan academy, bbc bitesize so could make your own curriculum. Other option is to go for an online school- we're considering Interhigh as good reviews tho somewhat steep termly fees.

[AMumInScotland]

Firstly, make sure you know if there are any legal requirements for the country, and make sure you are on the right side of them

After that - are you confident that your DC are up to speed for the curriculum they will be going into? If not, eg if they all study a specific language earlier there, then focus on that to help them be ready for the school.

Beyond that - I'd say keep their literacy and numeracy ticking over, by any means you like, and other than that spend time on trips and projects, get them thinking about anything and everything.

Up to you if getting everybody up in the morning is something you consider important, and/or something that you don't want them to lose the habit of. HE doesn't need to have set hours, so do whatever suits your assorted personalities!