Well, we are in our 2nd week of elected home education and the difference in my son is amazing. He is working hard (hope it stays that way) and is slowly coming back to life. Even went out the house without his hood up over his face on Sunday which he hasnt done for months. It's not an easy decision to make and I still have my fears as if we dont get it right the LEA can slap a school order on us and we are back to square one. We have a basic 'timetable', sessions and projects planned with the help of some great websites (not always free I'm afraid) but we felt it better to spend the money we would have had to pay the LEA in a fine on educating our son at home. He still socialises with a couple of friends from school but I am concerned that we need to get him out the house more but one step at a time.
The school were very quick to except our deregistration of our son - problem gone for them I suppose.
I still worry whether we have made the right decision as I suppose the 'experts' would say we have given in to him but to see him slowly starting to glow again has got to be right surely....taking away the pressure to conform to what others say is 'normal' has benefited us all. Its not easy juggling the education and my job but it will settle into a pattern i'm sure.
My wishes are with all dealing with this everyday and I hope we all have the strength to support our kids in what ever way suits. XXX

Well done Sue!

The decision to Home educate must have been very difficult but I'm so glad its working for you.
I didnt have to courage to do it, so when we were offered a couple of hours home tuition, I snapped it up, but Ive heard from one of the tutors that the Home Tuition has now stopped in our area, so I would have eventually done as you have.
Luckily my daughter is at college now and very happy as she is out of the school system, I agree, its so good to see your youngster glow again isn't it?

Well done to you both, keep it up!

Smiles!

Sue and M.

Sue

I am so pleased for you, and I admire you for doing it. I hope all continues to go well.

Stay in touch

Sar xx

Nothing to admire, we were forced into a corner by our LEA. Had no choice as it was HE or be prosecuted and at least this way my son is learning and my husband and I dont get a criminal record. I am waiting for the LEA to come knocking but I have read my rights and am prepared as best as I can be. Do I have my doubts..Yes...do i regret it..No.

Good luck Sue. It must be nice to see your son starting to be himself again.
I am curious to know how Home Education works. How are you able to help your son, for example, with maths? Will you eventually have to get a tutor? Do you see this as potentially a 'temporary' thing and try and go back to 'school' or is that a decision you will make further down the track?
Where I am in Australia the Home Ed groups meet in specific areas once a month and there are sometimes classes in community centres - a good way for the kids to socialise. Perhaps there is something like that in the UK too?
Stay in touch -
All the best,
Linda

Hi LInda,
I am hoping its a temporary thing to get him back to speed with this eduation and also re-build his confidence to may be start a different school at some point in the future although my confidence in the local eduation system has been destroyed!
At the moment we are cathcing up so I do work with him and we use an on-line tutoring service which is more affordable than 1-1. Its quite good, they set them tasks, practice sessions and every weekend they mark them, give a status report and set the following weeks tasks based on how they have done. Cover Maths and English mainly but all other subjects are there as well. They can take on line tests to see what level they are at which will help when the LEA come knocking. We are doing reading, with a trip to the theatre booked for the story he is reading, art projects, science - we did an experiment in the kitchen yesterday and made ice cream without a frezzer!!! I am learning as well! Its amazing what you can find online on museum websites, even google have school pages where you can download lesson plans and work sheets. Anyway I have gone on a bit!!!

Sue that is fantastic - could you let me know the site please.

I do admire you, you are doing so well. Apologies i didn't write much yesterday as spent most of the day in hospital with son number 2 - it was a nightmare. What started off as a visit to the gp ended up him being sent straight to the hospital nil by mouth and a frantic wait on the ward waiting for the surgeon - stess levels sky high i tell you. Anyway they didn't operate and are waiting for a scan. SR sons anxieties running at an all time high oooooooooooooooooooooooh joys of being a parent.

Anyway hope you are all well - got a meeting with the parent support worke later so fingers crossed.

Love to all

Sarah xx

Sarah - my heart goes out to you. Have they worked out what is wrong with your son? You certainly have your hands full with your family - it must be totally exhausting. Don't worry about the SR in the middle of all this! Small steps at a time. Take care and be strong - thinking of you
Linda x

Sue - thanks for giving us some idea of what it involves. I keep it in the back of my mind all the time - just in case. Do you have groups that you can meet up with sometimes?

Son came home today frustrated. Firstly teacher was annoyed that my son turned up with his homework on paper and not in his homework book (forgot to take it home with him). Instead of thinking 'hey - this kid has actually done his homework ....he saw only the negative side!). Then he told him that we evidently had not sent notes for 20 days absent (not sure what period this is over) and if it gets to 21 the Education Authorities will be getting onto us. As if my son needs to hear that!!Why doesn't the teacher call me instead?!
They also have set up Ultranet sites for the kids, teacher and parents and it has the number of days missed by each student on their profile. This is kind of minor but doesn't help but my son says it is embarrassing for other kids to see his - which sits at 76(not sure when this is for) compared to figures like 10 for other kids!!

We are also under pressure at the moment as my son has refused to go on the school camp and has told his friends we can't afford it. The teacher told him today that if he didn't go he'd regret it. Mmm....we went through such distressing trauma in grade 4 to get him on the camp - I am not putting him (or me!) through that again! But I don't expect the school to understand that. Has anyone else had trouble getting their kids to go on school camps?
Thanks again - and any sites you feel you can mention would be welcomed just so that I have some idea of the type of content.
Good luck,
Linda

Hi Sue H

I am so pleased it's going so well for you! As you know i am thinking of doing the same with my daughter...i must admit i am scared to take the leap...She hasn't gone today after three good days...i am exhausted with the battle x

Sarah, hope your son is feeling better, you have so much to deal with it seems unfair. I hope they can sort out what is wrong and help him quickly.
The website is called 'my own tutor' and you can have a 2 week free trial. You can set the level they work at by school year and alot of it can be done through games. My son is liking it and it costs less than £2 a day. Alot of people use it to support school work so it can be used in lots of ways. Google it and have a look.
All good wishes being sent to you and all your family.XXX
And of course to all on this forum XX