Is it possible for poorer people to home educate?

Question

I am a single mum in the uk. My daughter has behavioural problems (adhd and more). I work part time, and recieve state benefits.

I am seriously considering home schooling, however I've always thought of it as an option for the very well off and traditional family?

Is there anybody else in my situation home schooling? And for anybody that does home school, do you think it is possible?

Answer 1

i am not in your situation however, my advice is not to, Europe is not like US, see the answer previous to mine

possibly  only for an year or two, but not for the entire school,

your a single mummy?

Answer 2

Household income is 10% lower, on average, for families that homeschool, and it has been shown that the success rate of homeschoolers is not related to the income or educational level of the adult in charge.

I'm not in your situation, but we have seven children and I have two with autism, and homeschooling has worked wonderfully in our situation. Good luck....

Answer 3

Absolutely, there is always the possibilty of doing homeschooling online, if you have the internet that is.

Answer 4

I just wanted to let everyone here know that Babygurl B warmed my heart with the personal contact offer.  It's not often that someone actually reaches out in here to lend a helping hand, or a shoulder to lean on.  It brought a smile to my face!

Answer 5

hi i home educate 3 of my children and im a single parent and recieve state benefits. I took my chridren out last April its the best decision i ever made. I would never ever put my children back into school. Its real fun for the children , they dont have to rush around we go to london for day trips , but we do ,do the subjects they do at school and they find it real easy as ive got the time to explain to them . The schools dont have time to explain if the children get left behind. My kids said they had blank expressions on their faces as they didnt know what to do.Plus i talk to a local contact and i was so surprised to find out that the majority were  kids with special needs. Just go with what your child needs and she will be happy

Answer 6

Homeschooling is great for all income levels.  Studies show that the amount of money spent has no impact on academic performance.

Here are some statistics:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Here are some tips for affordable homeschooling.

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Answer 7

Me? Very well off? Lol..................... Anyone can afford to homeschool, it just takes effort and a bit of ingenuity!

Answer 8

It is not limited to the well off.  However, I am not sure whether your state assistance would be effected by it.

There are many single homeschoolers, and many lower income homeschoolers, so it is certainly possible.  My own family is lower income, but not on state assistance.

Answer 9

Yes you can. Like anything else you do on a tight budget, you have to be creative and willing to work a little harder for the same results, but it can be done. I'm not wealthy, but I HS. You need a decent library, a network of support and the will to succeed.

Answer 10

It depends on the method you use. Creating you own curriculum and using the Internet and public library for resources is basically free. That is the way my family went and I turned out just fine.

Answer 11

yes! the homeschool with i'm involved with has several families who are struggling.

its all about finding the right support group.

Answer 12

IF you want to learn about homeschool.. I am homeschooled as well as my younger sisters.. (they have been for 3-4 years and me two years) ... my mom knows alot about it and we have very little income!.. IF you want to know about it like all the sites to go to and what you'll need to do you can contact my mom at [e-mail]  she suggested it because I told her about this.. so it's okay. Please tell me if you will or not . thank you!

Answer 13

Yes, of course it is!  I presume you are in the UK?

I home educate my daughter and am a carer for my husband who has been ill for many years, so we receive state benefits too.  Make good use of your library's Inter-Library Loan Scheme, but make sure you get any books on your daughter's library ticket otherwise you will have to pay for any IILS books you order.

I try to buy second-hand books wherever possible or use a company called Brynteg Books who supply new books to individuals at the same discount that schools get.

http://www.bryntegbooks.co.uk/

Unfortunately there is no financial help for exams should your daughter decide to take any.

We fund the books by:

Not buying new clothes until absolutely necessary

Asking relatives for cash or book tokens as birthday / Christmas presents.

I wish you the best of luck - go for it if you feel it would help your daughter.  Do feel free to contact me - you can do so through my profile page.

Answer 14

I'm home ed and i come from a single parent family. I have anxiety problems and can't go to school anymore because it makes me ill. We're on benefits. If you join education otherwise for around £20 a year and you'll get a list of groups in your area of home schoolers ect. We take each day as it comes and do mainly practical lessons. I'm planning to take some online gcses too.

Home education is like freedom for me. I love it!!

Answer 15

You should try asking your local Citizens Advice Bureau...although it's a bit of a hit or miss at times it's worth the ask...x

Answer 16

Hi,

I am in the US, so I am not aware of the specific laws you have in the UK.  One good choice, unless you legally have to use textbooks of a certain type, is to do unit studies.  

Choose a wonderful work of literature and go from there. Let's say you choose to start with the complete works of Beatrix Potter. Read Benjamin Bunny.  Use that book to jumpstart your whole study for a week.  Create wordlists from the book like Ben, hen, when, and other phonics words.  Use phases from the book to create your own lapbooks with your child.  Study different types of plants or forms of transportation from a jumping off place in the book. Study any topic related to science or social sciences by just starting with a "jumping off" place in the book.  Reading, writing, phonics can all be created from the book and some imagination on your part.

If your daughter is a bit older, then choose a higher level of book to use for a unit study. They only "text" that you have to have is a math book from about age 8up.  Younger children can learn math just through games, rote learning, and manipulatives.

If you would prefer using textbooks rather than doing units, then check Ebay for used texts. They are relatively inexpensive there.  There is no reason why you would have to pay more than fifty dollars to buy basic math, science, social studies and a basal reader.

Answer 17

It is DEFINITELY NOT something that is  exclusive to the traditional and well off families. It could be the best thing you have ever done for your daughter. There is a great deal of help available to you - contact your school district to get information about home schooling, so you can work to the curriculum that others in her grade/age group are using.

Good luck!

Answer 18

Well here in the US you can opt to home school through the public school. You go to the school with your child once a week to recive and turn in the new curriculum and materials and the other 4 days you instruct and work from home. It's free.

Answer 19

Try going through some of these sites

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=i...

You need to find out the legal side as well as the education side.  There are many sites on there to help you see if you can do it.

Answer 20

I am a single (divorced) mother who homeschools my son, an 8-year-old second grader.  Currently, I work from home, am a full-time online college student, along with homeschooling my son.

Initially, my thoughts were the same as yours regarding homeschooling being an option only for traditional families and those who had lots of money to spend on curriculum.  However, because of my son's boredom with 1st grade and my desire to be available to and for him, I took a deep plunge into homeschooling.

Last year, when my son was tested at the neighborhood school, he was at or above grade level in all subjects.  His reading comprehension was that of an 11 year old, and his written expression was that of an 11.5 year old, and he was only 7 at the time.  

You can homeschool your daughter.  There are online homeschooling groups dedicated to those who work and homeschool (single and married) and to single parent homeschoolers.  Some links are below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WORKandHOM...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1Parent_hs...

I hope you decide to homeschool; it will be one of the best decisions you ever made.

Answer 21

Are there no libraries, no thrift stores with cheap books?

If so, come to America.  I once found a 1998 set of Encyclopedia Brintanica for $40 at a thrift store, sold new for $3,000 in 1998-2001

America, land of opportunity.  England, still a backwards share cropping Feudal state?!