I am blessed to have been able to home school my children...

After a few years in the formal education system, I came to the realisation that it really was not working for my children or family dynamics. So after much deliberation of the right way to move forward and how we were going to manage, we took the leap to home school. My eldest was 9 and my youngest was just 6. 

In truth, looking back, I wish they had never been to school at all. Would I have been saying that now, though, had they never been to school?

I am often asked how I home school, so this part of my website is to help parents in their decision making, and perhaps share a little light on some of the options available (though remember, homeschooling is about you and your child's life).
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A Pod Cast

During Spring 2020, when the world was suspended in lock down, and everyone had to home educate, I was honoured to be invited to take part in a podcast on Home Education. Please take a moment to learn more about Home Schooling in this easy to listen to podcast.

What do I teach them?

Teach them what ever you feel they need... there is no set curriculum in the UK, so there is no pressure to teach your child anyone thing. 
Often the biggest fear is am I good enough - I know that is what I was initially concerned about. The reality is - you learn with your child - you look things up with your child when they are small - read to them, count and cook with them, go out and explore with them - we learn all of the time. Even routine life is a learning opportunity.
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Curriculum

Even though you do not need to teach them anything, you may feel you would benefit from some support and guidance, you may feel you need to know you are covering enough - that is exactly how I felt. 

I love the Steiner education system, and had always wanted to send them to a Steiner school (though there are none local to me), so when I came across Waldorf Essentials Home Schooling package, I was really pleased that there was a an affordable option that I could learn alongside my child and deliver in my own way. It also enabled me the flexibility of being self employed.

When it was time for GCSE's (though not compulsory), we took the decision to sit just 5, so we worked with www.echo.education (a great distance learning IGCSE resource). We also worked with local weekly classes with HE friendly tutors. 

Waldorf Essentials

I loved this package, if you would like to know more, please click here

Forest School

I loved taking my children to forest schools - outdoor child lead learning - a space to be physically active, explore nature, learn skills and make friends.

It was a challenge to organise home educator sessions when I first joined the community (there were only a handful of people who home schooled locally - though that is really quite different now). So I trained to be both a forest and coastal school qualified leader.

I now run dedicated sessions to HE children in East Mersea, Brightlingsea (ages toddler to teens) and Bures (ages 9+ child only sessions). These are all priced on a not for profit basis.

​Click here to find out more.

A tiny snapshot of my journey
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www.dawnwaterhouse.co.uk