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Home Education
School does not suit everyone and home education or home tuition is where parents feel they can give their child a better education at home.
The law states that everyone between the ages of 5 and 16 must get a full-time compulsory education, but also allows parents to educate their children at home or with private tutors instead of sending them to school.
Some of the main reasons parents educate their children at home are:
- Problems with bullying
- Religious reasons
- Long term illness
- Special educational needs
- Disability
- Dissatisfied with school curriculum/teaching methods
- The young person is prevented from attending school for some other reason such as exclusion or behavioural problems.
Some of the main differences:
- Young people educated at home might not get to interact with others the same age as them as they would in school, but instead are able to socialise with children of all ages and adults alike.
- School children are taught by trained professionals, but parents can engage a variety of private tutors for subjects that they feel are beyond their knowledge base.
- School children have access to facilities and equipment all under one roof, whereas home educated young people access specialist facilities in a variety of locations e.g. sports and physical education carried out at leisure centres or sports clubs.
- The pace at which the child learns at home is tailored to the individual and suitable for their learning ability, learning style and needs.
If a parent wishes to educate their child at home then they 'de-register' their child with the school in writing who in turn inform the Local Education Authority (LEA).
The only exception to this is when a child attends a special school when parents have to ask permission from the LEA to withdraw the child to electively home educate.
Parents choosing to educate their child at home have a responsibility to ensure that the education is of the same or higher standard that the young person would receive in school with the knowledge of the Local Education Authority (LEA).
Parents do not necessarily educate their children at home in isolation without support. There are a number of home schooling networks and groups for both parents and young people to interact and share experiences with others in the same situation.
