Home schooling is usually a very different education experience when compared with receiving an education in a mainstream school. A home schooled child will usually receive much more individual attention, and the pace of work will be tailored for his or her personal needs. If parents and children decide to return to a school based education, this process needs to be prepared for in order to ensure as easy a transition as possible. This article discusses ways parents can prepare for their child to return to a school, or starting a new school, as well as some of the hurdles that might need to be crossed for registration at a new school and/or with a new Local Education Authority (LEA).
Preparing a Child for School Level
When a parent of a home school child approaches a school about returning, or starting, in a class, the school may evaluate the academic standard of the home schooled child who is entering or re-entering the school. This evaluation could be used for schools to decide the best class for a child to enter. Although usually this will be determined by age, testing is more likely to be offered for the younger years of primary school and most secondary school students, as well as children with Special Educational Needs.
For a child to give their optimum performance in these tests, (or, even if they are not offered, for a child to most smoothly adapt to school learning) it is important for parents to bring the child up to scratch on the subjects that school based learning will involve. If families are not already following a curriculum based approach, it’s important to do so in the months approaching the time that a child will start school. Organise a meeting with the child’s prospective class teacher (in primary school, or subject teachers at secondary school) to discuss the level of the rest of the class’ attainment so that your home schooling can be tailored in the same direction
Practical Steps for a Child Who is Going Back to School
Individual schools, as well as LEAs, will have slightly different procedures for a child who is returning to school, or starting school at a non-traditional time. It is best for parents to contact the relevant authorities as soon as possible before they want their child to return to school. In the instance where a child has already attended a school, then had a home school education, and is now returning to school, he or she will usually attend the same school as previously. Exceptions to this may include where the child was home schooled because of incidences of bullying, in which case sometimes the child will prefer to change schools.If a child has been home schooled throughout their education, and is now intending to begin a school, there will be other steps to be taken and in this instance parents should contact their LEA to discuss the options and what schools have available places for a child. Parents who want their child to attend a private school should still contact the LEA as well as the independent school(s), because the child may need to be registered as attending a school.
My son who is now 14 and has been homeschooled since 8 wants to go to school. He made friends with some schooled boys through a drama club and he now feels he needs to be with them. I am taking my hair out and need advise as to how to get him in. He says he feels lonely, he didn’t get to meet many other homeschooled kids that he can relate to. I would be most grateful for a chat with someone.
My Son is due to start high school in August but I really want to home school him..problem is I know nothing of the process and we live in the countryside so I have no one to ask. How do I go about homeschooling a high school aged child in Northern Ireland?
My grandson has now been expelled from three different schools hes been at home for 18 months I want to get him back into some sort of education with a school what can I do
Hi, I am seriously thinking of homeschooling my children, but then sending them to high school, does anyone know how this would work. I don’t think I am clever enough to take them all the way to GCSE
Hello, I deregistered my 15 year old daughter in January 2020 due to her anxiety around attending school. She has told me that she would like to return to school from September 2020 for year 11,as her anxiety is feeling much better (if that makes sense!) I have no idea how to get around this especially as we are currently in the lockdown due to the coronavirus and don’t have a clue who I would have to contact (home education at the council or the school?) Any advice would be grateful. Thank you
Hi, We took our son out of school in November 2019 when he was in year 4. We did it for numerous reasons. We have decided after a lot of talking that it now wasn’t the right decision ?? We applied for him to go back to school – he’d go back to year 5 now with everything that’s now going on. We obviously want him to go back to his previous school where he knows everyone. The school is a LA school. They have refused admission due to their pan being 30 & the amount of kids in that year will be 30. I am going to appeal this decision. Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or if anyone has any advice or if the head teacher could have any push on this decision. Thank you.
Hi I have been homeschooling my son since January 2018 he left year 4 and will be attending secondary school in September. I took him out because of bullying and various other reasons which led to a lot of anxiety for him. To Ems it would be the LA or if you are regular contact with a homeschool team it would be them you would need to speak to. They should still be available even now. The LA are currently waiting for June 1st so they can arrange some sort of transition for my son although I have no idea how this will all work.
Hi I have been looking into this as I am considering removing my child from school and home schooling him during this pandemic. When it comes to wanting them to return to school following home schooling it states that you should contact your local authority in whom should be able to help with this process. Hope that helps