Does anyone in Dulwich homeschool?

[Couldbeyummy]

Hi,

Mum of a 3 year old boy here, just began the open day visits to primary schools as he is due to start reception sept 2015. I have been panicking slightly to the idea of handing over my 4 year old to be 'schooled', and as a result begun looking into homeschooling. Has anyone else considered this?

Bit of background, I have been through state school and had a good experience. I'm not against schooling (son currently attends his 15 hours at lovely kindergarten and thoroughly enjoys his play here) But as as a parent will of course look at the system differently than I did as a child. I feel very lucky to live in an area where the quality of schools are good and outstanding and also to have amazing private schools on the doorstep (should I find a way to fund that!), however I do believe in my own ability to teach my own child as I have done so far. Given the growing community of homeschoolers, there seems to be a vast array of support and frequent social opportunities.

Has anyone considered and then been put off? Or felt the inevitable pressure to send them anyway? If so I would be interested to hear your story? I am a fan of Montessori style/child led learning, and do trust that a child wants and will learn intuitively school or no school. I have perhaps been swayed slightly by a few interesting TED talks on education and do wonder how much of the child is nurtured throughout the school process, given so much time and emphasis is put on results of subjects 'we' tell them are important. Most children have a good time at school I imagine and endure it like most people do, I just wonder and am interested to hear if the alternative brings anything .....more?

Would be happy for any thoughts, feedback, advice.

[Saffron]

No personal experience of homeschooling, but I know there are groups in SE London. Re Montessori - have you visited the Montessori Primary school (Rose House) in Forest Hill? xx

[Pippa21]

I have home-schooled and was part of a vibrant and amazing network of home-schoolers locally.

Check out the Education Otherwise website for info on Home Schooling.

All the best

[bawdy-nan]

I looked into homeschooling when it looked like mainstream wasn't going to work for one of mine and Education Otherwise is great. Great stories and ideas and advice. (Happy to give details off forum - via PM - if you want more info)

In the end we persevered with mainstream and I'm very glad we did. I understand your concerns but I think the primary schools are, for the most part, fabulous. I haven't found the "results" focus too strong at all but have found my children stimulated in all kinds of ways I wouldn't and couldn't have expected. I think that for them school represents something very important beyond "learning" - its their world and means that they have experience of being in the world beyond my domain and influence and they like that - they're becoming mini-citizens rather than just family members. Of course, there are all kinds of ways you can foster that in a home school environment but there is a lot to be said for school and a child's desire to be part of the bigger picture.

[Couldbeyummy]

Thanks for replies guys. I will look into the education otherwise as this sounds like a great source of support. I have recently just joined some Facebook groups (homeschool uk, and Montessori homeschool) -and there is an entire world of like minders on there, so I guess it's just a case of tapping into their world!

Still haven't quite made up my mind yet frustratingly but in the end I'll go with my gut as I have always done. In response to saffron, I did visit Rose house a few years back as an initial option for my son, but we then moved out the area to come back again (and by that point the wait list was too long....) I do think it may be worth looking now at the primary school, as we didn't previously view this part. Have you looked at this school? What did you think?

Xx