{"id":25,"date":"2024-06-12T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeeducatewithhayley.com\/?p=25"},"modified":"2024-06-20T22:14:14","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T22:14:14","slug":"home-education-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeeducatewithhayley.com\/?p=25","title":{"rendered":"EMBRACING THE JOURNEY: WELCOME TO HOME EDUCATION IN THE UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear New Home Education Families, Welcome to the incredible journey of home education in the UK!
Embarking on this path is a decision that opens up a world of possibilities for both you and your children. As you begin this adventure I know it can be completely overwhelming so I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to the community, and provide some guidance to make your transition easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT IS HOMESCHOOLING\/ HOME EDUCATION?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home education day at the Houses of Parliament.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the UK the term for educating your child otherwise than in school is called Electively home educating (or EHE).

Despite most of the world having a taste of \u201chomeschool\u201d during the pandemic, it\u2019s not<\/em> at all the same thing. Are all the seasoned homeschoolers out there nodding furiously along with me? 
Home educating is not just replicating school at home, it\u2019s not a timetabled tick list of worksheets to complete and a couple of zoom calls thrown in for good measure. It doesn\u2019t have to look like the national curriculum, and your child certainly does not have to sit at the table between 9-3.30pm!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home education is about tailoring your child\u2019s education to suit their individual needs and strengths, within your family\u2019s lifestyle and schedule. It\u2019s about getting out in the world and exploring, learning in a variety of different ways from watching documentaries to visiting museums. It\u2019s about helping your child find his\/her passions and allowing them the time to develop them as far as they desire.
In short home education can look however you want it to \u2013 from structured learning, to following your child\u2019s lead; the choice is yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Not all classrooms have four walls! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

EMBRACING FLEXIBILITY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the beauties of home education is the flexibility it offers. Unlike traditional schooling, you have the freedom to tailor your child\u2019s learning experience to their individual needs and interests. Whether it\u2019s exploring science in the garden, incorporating art into history lessons, learning maths through cooking, or delving into literature in a cozy reading nook, the possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice I always give to new home educators is to embrace that flexibility. Do not try to recreate school in your kitchen. Spend time getting to know how your child learns & what their interests are. If you want to spend the day on the beach reading you can, if you want to visit a different museum every day you can do that too. Does your child work better in the evenings? Great no need to have them sitting down at 9am.
Don\u2019t start off buying thousands of pounds worth of curriculum you\u2019ve seen on YouTube and realise a week in it doesn\u2019t work for your family. Try things out and be prepared to say that doesn\u2019t work and to change how things are done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Home Ed Science at the Discover Bucks Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

BUILDING A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whilst home education might seem like an independent journey, there\u2019s a vibrant community waiting to welcome you. Connect with local home education groups, both online and offline, where you can share experiences, exchange ideas, and seek advice. Facebook is the best place to start for this; to find both your local and national communities. The camaraderie among home education families is invaluable, providing support and encouragement when needed. Below are a couple of Facebook groups that I believe are invaluable to home educators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n