For the best information regarding home schooling your child, Child Law Advice (a registered charity) offers an extensive repertoire of advice.
Whilst a full-time primary education is compulsory for children aged between 4-11, as a parent you have the ability to provide this education at home for as long as you wish – providing that you are not subject to a school attendance order. In order to successfully do this, the education provided must be efficient and suitable, meaning that it is adequate and tailored to the child’s age, ability and aptitude.
As to whether home schooling is right for you and your child, there a number of different positive and negative consequences to consider.
Positives
• Curiosity, not boredom
With only one or a few students, you have the freedom to approach a subject from the angle that most appeals to your child. As a result of this, your child is likely to remain more engaged and excited to learn.
• Freedom
In the world of home schooling, there is a greater amount of freedom to choose how you want your child to learn. There is the option to get in a car and take a ‘school’ trip to a museum to teach history, or to a shop to teach maths. This can be another way to keep your child excited about the prospect of learning and succeeding.
• No threat of failure
A child who struggles in a traditional classroom can often feel like a failure through no fault of their own. That same child may have the same potential as their classmates, which can be reached through a slower paced education with more control over the topics.
Negatives
• Lack of social interaction
There is no doubt that a classroom full of other children offers more opportunities for social interaction than staying home. As a result of this, if you do choose to home school your child, it can be important to turn elsewhere for social engagement: clubs, sports teams, and home school support groups.
• Hard work for parents
If you have three children under ten and do decide to take the home-schooling route, you will certainly have your hands full as a parent for a few years. On top of this, home schooling can create obvious difficulties surrounding a growing career and a healthy work-life balance.
• Cost
Home schooling isn’t cheap, especially if your family is used to being a two-income household. By dedicating your time to home schooling, as a parent, you will be making a big sacrifice. There is also the cost of books and supplies to consider. In the UK, there are no financial contributions or grants from the government, meaning that the cost of teaching must be considered before making the decision.
To find more information about the decision to home school, visit –
• http://www.greatschools.org/
• https://www.gov.uk/home-education