Homeschooling

Talk to a lawyer, the NAS advice line or another specialist adviser. It is illegal for a school even to send a kid home because they can't meet his needs. It is illegal for the school to off-roll a child because of his SEN, or to "persuade" a parent to remove him.  The school needs to contact the Local Education Authority. If your child has an EHCP they need to call an emergency review. If he does not have an EHCP they need to start the process immediately. It is then up to the SEN department at the LEA to help you find a school. The local authority will "consult" with you and the proposd school, and if you agree that school will be "named" on his EHCP.

A lawyer will threaten the school and the LEA with a SEND Tribunal ... you will probably find that after the lawyer's letter they will be a lot more helpful. It is a pity when you have to threaten to "go legal" in order to get people to do their jobs.

This quote really touched my heart. With two children on the spectrum this quote takes away any doubts I had about removing my daughter from mainstream high school.

It was autismtwos quote above that finally helped me to make my mind up to homeschool my son, i sent the applicaion off the very next day.  Once the decision was made i felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders and i know my son feels the same way.

Thank you.

NO REGRETS:)

Puffin

autismtwo said:

Speaking as an aspie who when through the mill growing up in Nt world. Give your child cotton wool syndrome or a nannie state. Give him a fortress of love and protection. Because there is two type of aspergers ghetto hell or nannie protected. Ghetto hell ends up with mental health issues and nannie protected ends up a scientist. YOU CHOOSE ? keep him away from the rabble, there is no choice to make in my mind. Aspie out

I like your outlook autismtwo.  It is really annoying when people judge (I should say misjudge) and accuse parents of wrapping their children in cotton wool because they are taking the best choice for them.  Everyone has something to say don't they.  "Armchair philosophisers".  I was called a "helicopter parent" by some idiot on another forum who knew nothing about me or my children.  If home-education is what works for people they should not care about what others say or think, you have to do what's right for your child and family.

Hi There,

Just to say i am not a trained teacher, i do not believe you have to be to home school your children and if it is a little bit harder for us the benefits of knowng the child we are teaching so well must outweigh any negatives.

I have bought books second hand off Amazon and used bbc bitesize and other free computer teaching sites, but also do alot of hands on teaching, teaching maths whilst baking, covering weights and measures etc.  Do not feel you have to stick to the curriculum (although i do understand the want to at first), but as your confidence grows and you find your footing you will feel brave enough to step away and teach your child in different ways and covering there special interests. 

I have not found  homeschooling more expensive, if you take into account school shoes and trainers, uniform, school collections, petrol for the school run etc it works out about the same.

I am about to start my second school term teaching my seven year old, we are all loving the experience.

We recently saw the speech therapist and she could see huge improvements in our son's thinking and social skills and anxiety , in her words "because you have taken away a huge amount of stress from his shoulders he is happier and he will learn like a sponge now", the biggest confirmation so far that i am doing the right thing, i left the office a very happy mother!!

Good luck

Puffin

Thanks IntenseWorld - for both your replies.  You have a lot of helpful information to pass onto people, thank you so much, it really has helped me. 

Hi

I agree with comments above and would add it does not need to be expensive at all.  You can buy loads but there is no need to.  There are lots of opportunities to borrow, download for free, get 2nd hand, visit places for free, use the outdoors. 

I am reading a useful book just now "How Children Learn at Home" by Alan Thomas and Harriet Pattison which is great.  I have also been recommended "The Teenage Liberation Handbook" and Joyfully Rejoycing website, see link.

http://joyfullyrejoycing.com/

Best wishes

You don't have to follow the curriculum if you don't want.  The law says it has to be a suitable full-time education so what is suitable for one child might not be for yours.

I have no degree or teacher training and I home-educated for a total of 4.5 years, and my children are above age in most areas, and where they are not they are age-appropriate.  You don't need degrees or qualification to do it successfully.  You just need to access appropriate resources.

It sounds more scary than it is, and 1-2-1 teaching is easier than teaching a whole class of 30!

These might be helpful regarding flexi-schooling:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00223239/clarification-on-flexi-schooling

http://edyourself.org/articles/flexischooling.php (this is a really good website).

You may need to ask about funding for exams if you flexi-school.  The HT needs to approve flexi-school as an option, and I'm not sure they are obliged to agree.

Wow, all of these comments are fantastic.  This is something I am considering.  I have just posted a discussion "my teachers don't see my daughters difficulties" which kind of outlines the problems I am having with my daughter.  Half of me wants to pull her out of school and homeschool and the other half says wait and get her to try secondary school first, which could maybe lead to flexi school so that I can get science covered at mainstream with maybe another subject too and then i could homeschool the rest. 

I know there are a lot of resources out there but people still say it is expensive to home school.  Is this true.

Also - if it was flexi school, would this mean GCSE's would be paid for by the school or only the subjects she attended for.

Has anyone out there homeschooled to secondary level without being a teacher?  I have a degree in early years but no higher.

Thank you.

There are lots of free educational websites out there, and there are things like BBC Bitesize.  Sometimes subscription websites like GridClub, Education City, Mathswhizz etc. do special offers from Groupon or with Tesco clubcard or have reduced rates for home-educators (especially if you join a group).

You can look to see if there is a home-education group in your area through something like Yahoo.groups and exchange resources or pool funds to get a group tutor for some things.

Workbooks can be bought for reasonable prices on eBay for brands such as Letts.

If you join HEAS or Education Otherwise you can opt to have lists of other home-educators in your area to contact and join forces.

You can also sometimes get reduced rates for attractions.

I'm looking at possibly homeschooling my 11 yo  he's just starting Y7 Mainstream secondary and is just not coping with it all, the only reason I'm hesitant about homeschool is I can'r find  any info on where you'd get the stuff to home school? The curriculum seems really expensive and out of my reach.  Also, KS3 + science can't work out how I'd teach that.  All and any ideas would be gratefully received. Thanks 

Hi Mrs Tumble

I agree with Puffin and would add there are lots of supportive groups on facebook and one for Home Educating Our Special Needs Kids which is great. 

If you decide to HE or Flexi there are online systems like Education City and various others that will offer the majority of the curriculum online if that is what you want.  Libraries are great and you will probably be surprised how much you have already that you can use.  Cooking is fab for Maths, Reading Recipes, Following Instructions and Writing if you want to build it in.  A real self esteem boost too.

If self esteem is a challenge I have a book I have found useful - THink Good, Feel Good CBT for kids.  Gives you ideas.  NAS should be able to tell you if they have a library in your area so you don't have to keep buying books.  Are you involved with your local NAS branch, they may be able to give you a few pointers.

If you do decide to go ahead there is likely a HE group in your area which will also give you ideas.

For us, we follow his strenghs and build on these in a way that he enjoys and he learns.  Often spontaneous questions answered and explored, i.e. how is glass made - we look it up and may get a book out or go and visit somewhere that does glass blowng in the weeks after.  We were reading about the 2nd World War the other day and he acted it out with lego while i read.  You can be as creative as you want and to their ability level.  Look out for useful tv programmes in whatever interests him i.e. science, animals, nature, history, building even Coronation Street can be useful for life skills to talk through what is happening in the programme, the dangers, how they should behave etc.

It is the right thing for our lad but it has to be a family decision and one he is ready for.  It is his legal right to have his needs met in school and reasonable adjustments made to accomodate and support his needs.  Have you tried ringing the NAS Education Helpine?  They are very helpful.

Best wishes

Hi There,

I hope you do not mind me asking but why can they not accomodate him?  If he needs one to one support they can apply for that?  How does your son feel about school? 

My son uses SHM maths books (scottish level) available on line through amazon.  Very visual and he is a visual learner, what is your sons learning style is he visual?

BBc schools have a great site with a huge range of topics.  Start by asking he school if the can supply you with anything as it will depend on if you want to teach the curriculum in case you put him back into school at some stage?  You can flexi school, in school for some lessons and the rest at home?  if agreed by the school off course.

There is a huge amount available on line, just type in what you want to teach and you can buy the books or do it all on line.  invest in a couple of science and  magnet kits or loan from the school.  I borrow reading books from ours.

Good luck

Puffin

HI Camden,

Thank you for your lovely comments the other week.

  Regards speech and language therapist you are still intitled to NHS treatment even if homeschooled. Speech and language developement comes under that so your child should still be entitled.  I have been given alot of help and advice from our local therapist with social skills for my son.  I do live in Scotland but i am sure it should be the same with you.  Just phone the relevant departmet they will give you an immediate response.

We are still loving homeschooling and almost at the end of our first term!  My son is happier, my husband and i worry less,  he is learning so much more at a huge rate, the flexibility in teaching is fabulous.  Last week we did our written work on  "lego super heroes and villans"!!  (His latest thing)!  He struggles with cursive writing so i let him choose the topic and he wrote a whole page happily!  It is that flexibility you just dont have at school.  No distractions.  My son would never speak up if he did not understand something at school, he does with me.  We have spent the whole term studying the egyptcians (chosen by him).  He has almost finished all his year three maths books in one term!   I cannot see us ever putting him back in a mainstream school.  There are too many advantages to home schooling!  We have increased his out of school hours activities, and i really think, at the moment anyway the balance for my son is brilliant! 

My son is passive and he was bullied (unnoticed by the teachers). We spoke about school last week and i said "one day you may want to go back" and his response was "why would i" !!

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

Puffin x

Hi , I have just been told by my son's school they can no longer accommodate him, after months of stress and upset. So I know have him at home unroll I can find him another school. He is aspergers and 9 year 4 , any help in what books ,websites Tec you have used will be great. Thanks in advance.

We are sending our withdrawl from school off tomorrow.  Child centred learning in a positive environmenthere we come! Happy Days

S&L is to do with child development so it shouldn't be school-dependent.  I would speak to your HV or GP and ask for a referral.  I barely have any experience so far with S&L because my youngest had her regression when she was very young and we only had one speech therapist appointment.

This is exactly the dilemma I find myself in at the moment.  I'm trying to find a suitable school for my son and I keep asking myself if the stress is even worth it! Much learning doesnt take place in schools at all and then I'm wondering about the bullying and stress he's going to be under in dealing with the whole environment as he is quite passive.  I need speech/language and as I understand it, I wouldn't receive this service if he doesn't attend school, is that right?

I home-educated my youngest (HFA) for almost 3 years, and my eldest for a total of 4.5 years.  The only reason I put my youngest back into school was because of her challenging behaviour, and she doesn't like school really.  My eldest is just about to start school again next week and I know she will have problems (AS but not officially diagnosed yet).  Home-education can be fantastic if you have support from outside to be able to get a break when you need it, and if your child doesn't have severe behavioural problems.  They do waste loads of time in school, and my youngest complains the work is too easy as well.  The irony is, that the law says your child must receive a full-time education suitable to their age and ability.  Why don't they make the schools give a full-time education then!  By the time you take out all the faffing about they do, the children are probably learning for less than half the day, if that. I reckon this is why they dish out homework, because they don't teach them enough in school!

Hey Puffin

Glad to hear the home schooling is going well.  I'm a teacher myself and I find it amazing how much of the class time is actually learning time-not very much! I worked with my son at home too and it was amazing how much we could really do and in depth too. If you need any help or advice on resources or anything, please dont hesitate to ask!

All the best!