homeschooling

Hi,

I am Mum to 2 boys, 1 with ASD, ADHD, Episodic Dyscontrol, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia (the list goes on) and the other with AS and PDA.  We have home schooled for nearly four years.  The eldest lasted two terms at mainstream school,  I won't go into the details but 5 chest infections, regressive behaviour and the school still thinking they were getting it right was enough for us to take a leap into the unknown.  At which point his younger brother decided one out all out (he was still in nursery at the time).

Please be aware that what I am about to say is my understanding of the law and I am just a Mum so do check that what I say applies to where in the world you are.

We took our eldest out of school by sending a letter deregistering him.  This meant that the local authority had to accept that he wasn't truanting but was being educated "other than at school" which is what the law describes home schooling as.   The law states that you have to provide a full time, efficient educations suitable to ability and any special needs. 

We did start by trying to recreate school at home but found that both boys hated it.  Since then we have become much more relaxed and we follow what the boys are interested in.  One loves history and art, the other science, maths, music and language.  There are many styles of home schooling and every family I know is different. 

If you are known to your LEA ie your child has been to LEA controlled school, then you will have to provide them with a statement of educational provision which sounds scary but there are examples on the internet, and I am happy to help, explaining what you are doing and how you will meet the child's needs.  From that point forward you can control what contact you have with the LEA.  I chose not to have home visits but to submit an annual report detailing what we have covered, this was because our eldest was scared they would send him back to school.  If you are not known to the LEA, at this time, you don't have to do anything there is no duty on you to notify them that you home school but this may change.

There aren't any pitfalls for me.  I love what we do I have learnt so much from the boys and their passions.   Currently we are exploring World War 2 and learning Russian.  I know I spend a lot of time helping the boys and dealing with them but many families I know juggle work and home schooling very successfully. 

There are many support groups both on line and locally (depending on where you live).  Whether or not you follow a curriculum or not is a matter of choice.  We don't.  I find that over a year we cover just about everything they would cover at school without a workbook in sight.  I think that we will probably continue with home schooling for the whole of both boys' education.  I don't think a school could cope with the eldest's range of need or the younger's giftness (if there is such a word).

Sorry this is so long and for any spelling mistakes.  I keep getting interrupted and then have to work out what I was saying.  Just to say I love home schooling and am very proud of both my sons.

Hi,

I am Mum to 2 boys, 1 with ASD, ADHD, Episodic Dyscontrol, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia (the list goes on) and the other with AS and PDA.  We have home schooled for nearly four years.  The eldest lasted two terms at mainstream school,  I won't go into the details but 5 chest infections, regressive behaviour and the school still thinking they were getting it right was enough for us to take a leap into the unknown.  At which point his younger brother decided one out all out (he was still in nursery at the time).

Please be aware that what I am about to say is my understanding of the law and I am just a Mum so do check that what I say applies to where in the world you are.

We took our eldest out of school by sending a letter deregistering him.  This meant that the local authority had to accept that he wasn't truanting but was being educated "other than at school" which is what the law describes home schooling as.   The law states that you have to provide a full time, efficient educations suitable to ability and any special needs. 

We did start by trying to recreate school at home but found that both boys hated it.  Since then we have become much more relaxed and we follow what the boys are interested in.  One loves history and art, the other science, maths, music and language.  There are many styles of home schooling and every family I know is different. 

If you are known to your LEA ie your child has been to LEA controlled school, then you will have to provide them with a statement of educational provision which sounds scary but there are examples on the internet, and I am happy to help, explaining what you are doing and how you will meet the child's needs.  From that point forward you can control what contact you have with the LEA.  I chose not to have home visits but to submit an annual report detailing what we have covered, this was because our eldest was scared they would send him back to school.  If you are not known to the LEA, at this time, you don't have to do anything there is no duty on you to notify them that you home school but this may change.

There aren't any pitfalls for me.  I love what we do I have learnt so much from the boys and their passions.   Currently we are exploring World War 2 and learning Russian.  I know I spend a lot of time helping the boys and dealing with them but many families I know juggle work and home schooling very successfully. 

There are many support groups both on line and locally (depending on where you live).  Whether or not you follow a curriculum or not is a matter of choice.  We don't.  I find that over a year we cover just about everything they would cover at school without a workbook in sight.  I think that we will probably continue with home schooling for the whole of both boys' education.  I don't think a school could cope with the eldest's range of need or the younger's giftness (if there is such a word).

Sorry this is so long and for any spelling mistakes.  I keep getting interrupted and then have to work out what I was saying.  Just to say I love home schooling and am very proud of both my sons.