How to Support Your Child with Elective Home Education

24th February 2025

Elective Home Education. A Parent’s Guide

Elective home education is an increasingly popular choice for families in the UK. Whether it’s due to personal preference, flexibility, or a response to special educational needs, home education offers parents the opportunity to take a hands-on approach to their children’s education. However, while it can be an enriching experience, it can also be challenging for both parents and children. Here’s a guide to help you support your child with home schooling and ensure a positive, productive learning journey.

1. Create a Positive and Practical Learning Environment

The first step in supporting home education is creating a dedicated learning space. Whether you have a whole room or a corner of the living room, it’s important that the area is quiet, well-organized, and free from distractions.

Key Tips for Creating a Learning Space:

Choose a quiet space where your child can focus without interruptions.
Ensure the area is comfortable but not too relaxing (a comfy chair is great, but avoid the temptation to use a bed for learning!).
Have all necessary supplies (stationery, books, technology) within easy reach.

Consider using a visual timetable to help younger children see what’s next in their day. This can make the structure of their lessons feel more predictable and manageable.

2.Establish a Routine and Structure

One of the key benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility it offers, but this flexibility can sometimes lead to disorganisation. A well-structured daily routine can help your child stay on track and develop a sense of consistency.

Why a Routine is Important:

It provides a sense of stability, even in an otherwise unpredictable time.
It helps children develop time-management skills.
It makes it easier to balance schoolwork with breaks, meals, and downtime.

You could try setting up a weekly learning schedule with fixed times for core subjects, breaks, and fun activities. Apps like Google Calendar or simple printed timetables can help you and your child stay organised.

3. Stay in Touch with Educational Authorities

In the UK, home education is legally permitted, but parents must ensure they are providing a suitable education. While you don’t have to follow the National Curriculum exactly, it’s a good idea to follow a structured programme that covers key areas like Maths, English, Science, and Humanities.

Notify your local council: When you decide to home educate, you must inform your local authority. They may not be actively involved in your day-to-day activities but will want to check in periodically to ensure the child is receiving a suitable education.
Follow resources like the National Curriculum: You don’t have to follow it rigidly, but it can guide you in planning lessons, ensuring that your child is covering appropriate subjects. Visit the Gov.uk Home Education Page for official advice and guidance.

For more structured support, you can join home education communities in the UK. Websites like The Home Education Advisory Service (HEAS) offer support, resources, and legal advice.

Resources for UK Parents:

Home Education Advisory Service (HEAS)
Gov.uk – Home Education

4. Focus on Emotional and Social Well-being

One of the challenges of home education is that children may miss out on the social interactions they’d normally have in school. It’s important to make time for social activities and emotional well-being.

Ways to Support Emotionally:

Set aside time for social activities, whether it’s joining online groups, arranging meet-ups with other home-educated children, or even extracurricular activities like sports, drama, or music lessons.
Celebrate small wins and offer encouragement regularly. Home schooling can sometimes feel overwhelming, so focus on the positive and create a supportive environment.

Social Opportunities for Home-educatded Children:

Home Education UK: A national organisation that provides details of events, workshops, and local groups for home-educated children.
Look into local homeschooling co-ops, where children can join in group activities and learn in a social setting.

5. Use Engaging and Active Learning Methods

One of the best ways to support your child’s learning is by making education interactive and fun. Children learn better when they are actively engaged, rather than passively receiving information. Use a variety of methods to help bring lessons to life.

Ideas for Active Learning:

Practical Science Experiments: Science can come to life at home with hands-on experiments (e.g., baking soda volcanoes, growing plants, or building simple machines).
Field Trips (Virtually or in Person): Museums, historical sites, and nature walks are great ways to reinforce what they’re learning in a tangible way. Many UK museums offer free virtual tours, such as the British Museum or the Science Museum.
Educational Apps and Games: Apps like Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize, and Prodigy provide interactive content aligned with the National Curriculum.

Fun Learning Platforms:

Khan Academy – Free online courses and lessons.
BBC Bitesize – UK-based curriculum support, with video lessons and quizzes.
Prodigy Math – Engaging math game for children.

6. Be Flexible and Patient

Not every day will go to plan, and that’s perfectly okay. Be patient with your child and with yourself. There will be times when things don’t go smoothly, and it’s important to remain flexible and adaptable. If your child is struggling with a particular subject, take a break and return to it later, or adjust the method of teaching to suit their learning style.

Tips for Flexibility:

If something isn’t working, change it. If your child is finding a particular subject difficult, consider using a different teaching method, activity, or tool.
Focus on building resilience—help your child manage frustration and stress by modeling calm behaviour and encouraging breaks when needed.

7. Encourage Independence and Responsibility

One of the key advantages of home education is the opportunity to help your child develop independence. Encourage them to take ownership of their learning by managing their time, organising their work, and setting goals. This not only reduces your workload but also empowers your child to take charge of their education.

Ways to Encourage Independence:

Allow them to manage their timetable, choose certain activities, or decide how to approach certain tasks.
Help them set learning goals and track their progress—this will give them a sense of achievement and responsibility.

8. Keep Learning Fun

When learning becomes enjoyable, it’s easier to stay motivated. Incorporating fun, hands-on activities into the curriculum will keep your child engaged and excited about learning.

Ideas for Fun Learning:

Art and Craft Projects: Let your child express themselves creatively, which also helps develop skills like problem-solving and fine motor skills.
Outdoor Learning: Maths and science can be taught by exploring nature, such as measuring tree heights or identifying plants and insects.

Additional Resources for UK Home Schooling:

The Home Schooling Association: A UK-wide network supporting home educators.
Edplace – UK-based online learning platform with worksheets and exercises.

Enlist the Support and Experience of a Private Tutor

Supporting your child through home education in the UK is an exciting but challenging journey. With the right resources, a flexible attitude, and consistent emotional support, you can help your child thrive academically and personally. Remember that every home education experience is unique, so don’t be afraid to adjust your approach based on what works best for your child. Have a look at some of our tutors and contact us if you would like some help!