Home Education.

I guess it very much depends on her reasons for wanting to make the switch to home schooling, as well as the age of the boy and his needs.
Personally I think the school environment offers far more than just an academic education, and the benefits of socialising with other children throughout the day are enormous. I'd far rather a happy, well-rounded child, than a loner who finds it difficult to interact and work as part of a team which is where home schooling can inevitably, although not always, lead.

I agree. I think educationally children often do well at home but socially they can often be misfits. I know this is rather a sweeping statement!!

There is a long thread in this that happened a while back - worth a search as there may be things in there that could help.

I do not think it is possible to make any comment on the pros and cons of home education unless one knows all the details of the particular case. Why the decision was made, what sort of education they will give their child, what opportunities the child will have to socialise with other children etc etc.

Good home education is very very good and the children do outstandingly well. Bad home education is very very damaging for a child especially if the bad education is coupled with social isolation.

Bit like school really.

Lillie I do not agree with your automatic linking of home education and social isolation. I have known children home educated who happily played with school educated children living round them, as they had as pre-schoolers, they went to dancing and sports classes, belonged to sports teams and had plenty of friends.

Given my time again I would undoubtedly have home educated my children, especially my son, until he was at least 7. It doesn't follow that going to school socialises children. My son went through primary education to a large extent standing on the edge watching others. Everybody liked him and were willing to have him join their games, but he made no close friends and never wanted to see anyone from school outside school premises. He had friends but they came through belonging to special interest groups and these he would have had even if he was home educated

Parents are also entitled to mix home and school education so a child can go to svhool two days a week and be home educated the other three.

I think that MOnica says it all.
Some children are just not suited to school or they have special needs that the school are not addressing.
However it is like schools, the good the bad and the indifferent.
I think it needs monitoring- I am appalled that the authorities have no right to visit if the parent wishes to exclude them.
You have to take each case on their merits and take into account the personalities and motivations.
I think it can be the answer if the child is central and it is the best for them. I am very sceptical where it is adult driven and the parent is imposing their own philosophies on the child or projecting their own school experiences onto the child.
It has to be a way of life in my opinion and not something you fit in around a job or a busy life.

I think that social isolation is a red herring- it depends on what groups, hobbies etc they have.
I think flexi education gives the worst of both worlds- life goes on in both places when the child is not there and they are not a full part.

There is a lot to be said for it in the early years when 4yr olds are in school when they are simply not ready.

If we waited until some of them were "ready" to socialise, we'd still be waiting until they were adolescents and it is far harder then!

I believe children need to mix with others of their own age and to hear ideas from adults not their parents. Where is the accountability?
Do they have visits from some authority linked to education? (OFSTED...)

There was a case of a boy, who hadn't been seen by any education or health officials since 18 mths in the weekend papers. He died through neglect.

We only hear of trendy , middle class, highly educated parents home schooling., or so it seems.

Again there any accountability?

Home education requires a great deal of dedication and time for the adults responsible. That said it can be a really positive experience for the child involved particularly if that child has had problems in school. There is no need for the child to be isolated, other social experiences-cubs, brownies, swimming clubs, woodcraft folk can offer social opportunities. There is often an out-of-school social organisation in the area as well.

I know 2 families who home school-they have 5 and 4 children respectively and both families belong to evangelical Christian churches. They are also young earth creationists so I presume homeschooling avoids any conflict of beliefs between themselves and mainstream education/religion

I am against it if it is a way to censor what the child hears and who they meet.

I said this on a previous thread about Home Ed. My DH visits children 'Educated Otherwise' ie home educated as part of his job with a Local Authority. His legal remit is limited but he has met children who are having an excellent time being home educated but equally some seriously worrying situations that have been referred to Child Protection and a lot in between!

It does seem odd that schools and teachers are under very close scrutiny about the quality of education and 'standards' compared to parents who choose a different path.

Many parents remove children from school because of some dissatisfaction with the school but do not always realise that if they do this voluntarily then the LA has no obligation to find a place at another school should the parent change their mind. Some secondary schools have put pressure on some parents to remove children voluntarily 'to avoid exclusion' . Parents do this but think they can go to another school and then find they are responsible for teaching and educating their child. Often these are families who have the least resources to do this.

I think I would have gone bonkers being at home with my kids all the time. bad enough in the holidays!

I may have gone bonkers with my mum all the time as a child......much as I loved her