why the title? always loved button moon as a small child and could not think of another blog title.
Why the heck am I home schooling ?
well fateful day mid April 12 midnight be exact when logged into council admissions to find out Syd had one of our 3 preferences!
Not preference 1 her older siblings school due to silly county sibling policy.
Not preference no 2-free school lottery very oversubscribed 201 applications for 30 spaces Syd was 105 out the hat .was long shot but glad I put it down who thought school admissions be like gambling.
Not preference 3 nearest infant school 75 intake ,509 metres away felt sure we get it.I liked it not so keen on juniors and be huge rush try get between schools.
I got allocated a school a school further away opposite direction to eldests, school.
its Ofsted was god had bee in special measures ad still under.the lovely buildings bit shabby ad she knew know one going there.without hiring childminder or paying after school club to enable me to do it so would cost me money to send child to school never wanted her to go to in 1st place.
I turned it down and defered until January. which meant council admissions fulfilled their legal obligation and its down to us to remain wait lists find alternative school or home home educate.
small boy starting preschool meant couldn't be 3 locations at once.so after much research reading and making links we decided home education be most sensible option.
Im degree educated how hard could teaching one 5 year old reception curriculum/foundation be?
everyone knows they just play with bit of phonics thrown in!
so now most local people ad eldest,s school, little ones preschool think I am a deranged hippy!
getting used to raised eyebrows and shock.
getting called into syds old nursery office whilst they asked me if it was legal. Am I qualified.do I want them to help me find a school.
I am fortunate to have large home ed community within city I live in but we all so spread out and some of meet ups times and obscure far away locations don't tie in with school runs for other 2 sadly.
I do admire their autonomy confidence freedom and not worrying.
But due to time constraints and Syd eventually going a school we staying structured and loosely following national curriculum.
.If I did not lesson plan and prepare resources in advance I would be doomed if was child led ,Syd would play frozen and i pad all day whilst watching cartoons.
So I embarked i scouring local face book groups charity shops and car boots for educational resources and books done very well. I estimate spent £100 all in. we still need new printer,
I love pinterest for many ideas.found some interesting america curriculum too.
I have all the basics phonics and writing booklets
early readers
back garden that resembles a preschool..
I have set up the dining room as our main class room area.
I think most people seem think we roam the park all day and dot do much.
some weeks due appointments ad events and illness I panic and think we not ding much.
I torture myself with reading reception teacher blogs and realise we few weeks behind on phonics.
nursery are saying shes not blending yet-yes i'm in phonics hell get me out of here!
Between letters and jolly phonics i'm bored stupid so is Syd.
Also have to deal with her aversion to numbers.
I am writing this blog retrospectively more for me than anyone else who chooses to read it as way of electronically tracking and recording what we done so cant stop panicking and realise we did something.I think the crappy phrase learning journey springs to mind there,s me thinking as manager we spoke crap but same is true for education.
Just by chance not looking we found a nursery school over the county border through free forest school open day. were blow away by garden size and facilities like montessori style kitchen so kids could cook, fab forest school and formal classrooms.I was overjoyed when they said they accept Syd. its very little known fact that free 15 hours EFYS funding is until term after 5th birthday very few people defer and no nursery or old preschool wanted to keep her on any longer .
There was also another little girl doing 5 mornings a week waiting for school place head said had happened in past.
Started Syd 3 mornings so she has 2 days Monday and Friday home ed when her brothers in preschool she loves the one to one being poor neglected middle child.
I thought some space away huge garden , forest school craft baking, events and just social time other kids and away for me be a positive.
They been very supportive about home ed and defering so thought worth a go.
Thankfully shes happy there.she wears a uniform and they run many events so don't feel like she misses out.
In addition to this she joined rainbows with 5 and 6 year old children and does just fine.
cheer leading again an after school class kids her won age.
she mingles with her older sisters friends after school and tries catch up with her mates who went to school..
It is hard not knowing when she will start,
I have lesson planned up to January with rough outline for term 3
we have our ups and downs and despite being 5 she gets tired so god knows how just turned 4 year old,s managed.
First term very much outdoors as fab weather.
we started term one with i;m not going back to school home ed picnic.
now we starting term 2 its darker cold rainy its more of a challenge and planning more libary, museums and swimming
we been very much led by calender and seasons.
Had planned termly topics.
But did
autumn
Halloween
Bonfire night
Remembrance/war
December will be all things Christmas.
few book unit studies.
mini beasts , dinosaurs, space and oceans will have to wait.
My vision statement or educational philosophy more crass phrases of very basic idea maybe i'm morphing into education .I have not yet joined a union or planned my strikes yet!
schools are full politics and home ed groups even more so.
The law states I have to provide Sydney with good quality education suitable for her age and ability.
My aim is that Syd enjoys what we do and learns a lot enough not to be behind her schooled peers,
That maybe I can change peoples opinions of home education from the inside.
I know I cant replicate everything a reception child does but i can offer different experiences..
I think sometimes hard for parents to get child to do same as outside teacher would.wearing teacher and mother hat, being fully responsible for child,s education can seem daunting.
Its not been easy we have ups and downs the good days seem to make up for the bad.
All around me locally and UK as a whole is very school focused so to be the different one.
Its not been easy choice but been right one for us as a family.
My inner hippy does think we start kids too young and expect too much too soon from 4 and 5 year old,s..
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