As families across the UK

Prepare for a return to school this week

Many of us have chosen to educate our children at home

I want to use the month of September

To highlight home education

To share with you what it means to us as a family

And to feature other families

Who choose to educate their children

Otherwise than school

My first home educator is a lady who lives near to me

We belong to many of the same HE groups

But I do not think we have met yet

I believe the first time

Will be at a Shakespeare Workshop she is organising

For local families to explore A Midsummer Night’s Dream

I would like to introduce you to Jan Croucher

And let her share with you some thoughts

On education otherwise

And her family

My family consists of myself and husband and we have two girls a nearly 10 year old and a 5 year old. I have two stepchildren as well though they are now adults.

We have been home educating for 4 years from the start of October for the eldest ( she started HE just after starting Year one ). The youngest has always been HE.

I never doubt my decision to HE it works best for our family and allows both girls to learn at their own speed and in their own way. If I am honest I always wanted to home educate. I am an older parent, three times married and our eldest was a complete surprise, I never thought I could have children. I googled do I have to send my child to school and HE came up. My husband disagreed initially my step children had been to school and he thought it was too hippy to HE (he is very mainstream). We had issues with reading in reception, it didn’t get easier and by year 1 after an argument with her year 1 teacher we withdrew her from school and began our journey.

We are semi structured but easily distracted by a nice day We do have an educational philosophy the basic version is we want to fulfil the requirements of education as laid down by the law by using a wide variety of resources and to encourage both girls to follow their own dreams whilst encouraging them to understand the world around them and to take care of it. We want them to understand technology and to appreciate and respect the natural world.

We follow a structured curriculum for Maths, Spanish and Science and semi structured in others. We use Conquer Maths, we use group tutors and workbooks, other internet sites, groups etc etc

Our favourite sites are Conquer Maths, Oxford Owl, Starfall, Every School, BBC Bitesize and museum and gallery sites and links.

We have a tutor for Spanish and Science and go on regular farm walks, we go to forest school sessions, water sports, dry slope skiing, climbing and activity days regularly as well as the HE meets and trips as and when.

We only assess learning in as far as we don’t move on until I am sure the girls understand what they are learning.

Time. We are always running out of it! Life is busy. We try to make at least two days a week stay at home days but it varies from week to week. Me time is important and is generally taken late at night once the girls are in bed. Rumour has it that work is ‘me’ time and I work 10-6 weekends to help fund HE and holidays etc.

Are my friends and family supportive? Hmmm … I am very independent, I don’t think I probably give anyone the chance to be supportive or otherwise. It is very much our decision, most don’t really comment. I have had negative comments but these are normally born of ignorance and pre conceived ideas about HE. I’m happy to talk to people about home education.

I always wonder why they call it home education We are rarely in! Both girls go to a wide range of different HE groups from social meets and sport to educational subject working groups; as well as the usual after school groups, Rainbows youth group, Badgers, gymnastics etc.

This year we also went to AEFES and HE festival camping for a week

The best thing about HE being together, encouraging individuality and independence to try and learn new things, to follow a dream.

The worst thing about HE? Being together … its a balancing act.

School is in the future if that is what the girls want … at the moment neither does … we have no long term plan to ever send them until college / University if their path leads them that way.

My hopes and dreams are that both my girls follow their hopes and dreams and we work towards making them happen .

My advice to anyone considering home education is to make sure it is what all the family are happy with. It is important you all want to HE because it takes 100% effort as a family. What works for one family does not work for all. Do the research into local groups etc, meet local HE families, have that support team in place, know what you want from HE and each other. Do not be afraid to ask for help and use tutors as needed. tutoo is a great place to find tutors for a range of subjects, ages and stages.

I wish someone had told me that home education is 24/7, although we would still have taken this path, and that some days are hard but it is worth it.

If you would like to read more about Jan’s home education journey, you can follow her diary on Facebook. She can also be found on Twitter

Over the coming days and weeks I will be sharing the stories of many more home educating families. To share what we do, how we do it and to celebrate the diversity of home educators and their families.

If you would like to be featured, please do get in touch. jennie@edspire.co.uk