Are you cut out to home educate?

You might not have a teaching qualification, but in your own way, you’ve been educating your child since they were born. Think about it – all that reading, painting, craft, swimming, time at the park (and answering those countless questions) add up to a significant exchange of knowledge.

'Often, parents and children learn a subject together,' says Edwina. 'Some parents are amazed that the maths which seemed so mysterious in school becomes quite clear now they’re grown up!' Bear in mind that you won't be teaching your child GCSE-level subjects from day one; it's a gradual progression that will start off easy and gradually grow in difficulty as you and your child become more confident and skilled.

And don’t forget the huge range of resources you can use – from books at the library to online information from trusted sources, tutors, skilled friends and kits available from distance-learning companies.

Finances are worth thinking carefully about, especially if you're planning to home educate long-term, but take confidence from the fact that many people make it work. Home education doesn't have to happen between 9am and 3pm, so perhaps you and your child could work together after your working day has finished. Other options are working from home, both parents going part-time, flexi-schooling and making personal sacrifices such as holidays or home improvements.

'It isn’t necessary to stay at home for your children to be educated,' says Edwina. 'There are home education groups all around the country which meet for socialising and courses. Education can also take place in art galleries, museums, libraries, nature reserves and sports clubs.' In fact, home education can be a far more social experience than sending your child to school, with you and your child meeting not just families with children of the same age, but of all different ages and from other walks of life. 

'People often worry that their children won't get to socialise with others, but home educators would generally argue that at school, children only relate to children of their own age, whereas home-educated children spend a lot of time with children and adults of all ages,' says Dr Alan Thomas, honorary senior lecturer at the Institute of Education, University College London. This could be through home education groups, organised classes like music or drama lessons, workshops put on by local museums and galleries, sports clubs... The list is endless.

It may be more difficult for your child to socialise if you live in a remote area, but even if there are no home education groups near you, there are bound to be other groups and classes for your child to get involved with, such as the Scouting and Guiding organisations, swimming lessons, choirs, orchestras and other similar clubs.

Essentially, all you need to home educate is a surface to work on. It doesn't even need to be a desk: the kitchen table will do. You can learn a great deal outside the home as well as within, so you don't need to be cooped up all day.

You might be concerned about the dynamics of being a both parent and teacher. 'Negotiation and motivation are the keys here,' believes Edwina. 'When a child is interested in a subject, or if the subject is a means to an end, they can learn very fast indeed. Education at home is much more flexible than in school, as children can learn about what interests them and often they learn the basics – literacy and numeracy – through their topic of interest.' 

So yes, your child might protest if you're asking them to sit down and tackle a maths worksheet, but if you can bring that to life by applying it to something they're keen on, such as football or cooking, you can keep their motivation up and help them stay engaged.

Home educators often start with organising learning in a structured way, but as their confidence grows, learning becomes more flexible, believes Edwina. 'Much home education takes place through conversations with knowledgeable adults,' she says. 

If you're worried about planning lessons, workbooks can be a good place to start, but try not to focus too much on your daily hour of maths or literacy: the core subjects will often naturally be covered as you delve into a topic that your child has chosen.

Learning resources don’t have to be costly and it is possible to home educate on a budget. Start off with the basics – a well-equipped pencil case with protractor, compass and ruler; a dictonary; a calculator and an atlas. A computer and television can be useful. You can bulk buy stationery or share with other home educators. Don’t buy too many resources at first – ask others what they find useful. Many home education groups have resources that members can borrow or swap.

Your local council might offer you access to school resources, a discount to the leisure centre or extra borrowing privileges at the library. TheSchoolRun also offers a home educators package.

Some charitable trusts offer funds to families with children of special educational needs, and if you're eligible, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits should continue until 19 as long as your child is in full-time education (which includes home education). In Scotland, eligible children aged over 16 can claim Education Maintenance Allowance.