Home schooling - how do i do it?

skyrocket

After some serious problems my son is having at school, his school is hinting that if things don't improve with him there is nothing more they can do for him.
I moved him from another school to this one.
I honestly don't know what to do next other than perhaps consider home schooling.
I know some people do it but I don't know how one goes about it or what really is involved.
Could anyone please advise?
I'm at the end of my tether!

haylibo

http://www.education-otherwise.org.uk/ - for lots of advice and support from a lovely bunch of people. Join the list and I bet you'll feel better before the day is out.
If your decision involves special needs (diagnosed or suspected) then join http://www.he-special.org.uk/ for an even nicer bunch:)
Very best wishes
Hayles

bonnie_2

All you need to do, is a copy of the deregistration letter from education otherwise and take it into school, make sure you get a receipt and after that he dosen't have to go any more.
I t is up to you if you want to follow the national curriculum or not, you can just go with the flow and follow your sons interests.
I don't know many homeschoolers who work to lessons, I use this site an old fashioned education , because it is free and you can adapt it.
Don't rush out and buy loads of books, you just don't need them, i made this mistake.
Everything you need is online.

tesuhoha

The school will report your son as home educated and eventually someone from the Council school inclusions dept will visit you for an inspection to ensure that you are giving your son an adequate education and to advise you.

haylibo

The school will report your son as home educated and eventually someone from the Council school inclusions dept will visit you for an inspection to ensure that you are giving your son an adequate education and to advise you.

You don't have to have any visits AT ALL. Inspections are for schools and not for those of us who choose to home-ed. You may have to satisfy them that you are giving an education suitable to your child's age and ability but this can be in the form of a written report or an education philosophy (see EO site for more on that). The LEAs advice can be very misleading and out of date too so it is best to be self educated on your rights and responsibilities There are so many parents who home ed and the numbers are increasing. It is a positive way to return to the learning you did together pre-school taking out the huge stress that traditional schooling can cause for some children.
BW
Hayles

Savvy_Sue

Another helpful organisation if you want to keep him in school but feel they're not meeting any special needs he has is IPSEA. Cannot add to the advice about home schooling!

SWMBO

My eldest DS has just started at a 6th form having been home educated & DD1 & 2 have never been to school & coming up to the age DS was when he came out of school, so between them I have experience of HEing pretty much right through. Tell us how old your DS & I can post resources for that age. There's lots of support out there for HE. Joining EO (I see haylibo already posted the link) is a good first step.

savingforarainyday

We took our DS out of secondary 2 years ago after a rocky start to year 7. Actually it was rocky from reception right through to year 7 but it just got horrendous ( He has an ASD)

There is plenty of good advice and support out there from all of the groups above. EO (education otherwise website) can clue you up on your legal rights. Also being a member can put you in touch with other local home ed families.

You don't say how old ds is, but we have had some fun doing a lot of stuff i would have never thought of. Ditto what Bonnie said don't go out and buy lots of stuff, most of it doesn't get used you can get some great ideas of the internet.

If you are unsure if it is the right thing for you start with your local parent partnership service, the volunteers are all parents of children on the special needs register and have been where you are and are trained to support parents at meetings through statementing process. They will be able to talk you though at least what your options are, who could be giving the school support to help your child etc.attend meetings with you. School SENCo or LEA will be able to give you their number

Remember you know your child the best, no matter what the school may say to you, and you will know if home education is the right thing to do not just the last resort.

Good Luck what ever route you take:A

skyrocket

Hi everyone!
Thanks for your replies! :beer:
My son is 8 going on 9 in April.
He has had a string of problems at school due to his Dyspraxia and ADD.
Some times I don't know what else I can do.
Please could you send me those links so I can read up properly and see what needs to be done!

Savvy_Sue

The link to IPSEA is in my post. Any others you're in a hurry for you could google.

Hope you get the support you need: the SCHOOL should be considering what THEY need to do to support your child, not trying to wash their hands of him!

anonymousie

skyrocket wrote: »

Hi everyone!
Thanks for your replies! :beer:
My son is 8 going on 9 in April.
He has had a string of problems at school due to his Dyspraxia and ADD.
Some times I don't know what else I can do.
Please could you send me those links so I can read up properly and see what needs to be done!

I feel so sad for you and your little boy. You must be:mad:

Yes HE is a possibility and might be the answer but have school done all they should first?? "washing there hands of him" isn't an option they have- unless they have reason to exclude him (and it seems to me you have to go an awful long way down the road, usually involving physical violence to get excluded). Even an excluded child will then go to the pupil referral unit for the support they need to get an education.

Does you son have a statement? Does he have a 1-1 helper in class?? If he is only on school action or school action plus they have no where near explored all options.

Go and see the SENCO and find out exactly who has asessed him- request and ed psych visit if it hasn't happened (and another one if it hasn't happened recently) and take it from there.

Your GP could refer him to the child and adolescent mental health team, as could school, but it might be good to go from both "sides". Your GP would be greately aided if you can give him an upto date asessment from his teacher to send with that too.

Round here (south brum) not only do ADD/ADHD kids get supported school placements those who can't cope in mainstream (usually due to impulsive/violent/absconding behaviour ) are referred to special schooling either as day places or even one school that does "sleepovers" -not formal boarding but intermittent respite for parents and routine for the child.

I do note though the parent have to push for schools to "pull their finger out" to get into the system though. I'm not sure why as a statemented child stats are useful for the school...