Home schooling

You can teach your child at home if you prefer and many parents do so successfully, often with the help of organisations with local support networks like Education Otherwise.

Home educating parents are not required to teach the National Curriculum, have a timetable, or mark work done by their child, but the DCSF says that LEAs should offer advice and support to parents on these issues.

The DCSF recommends that parents keep samples of the child's work, record educational progress within a set period, have plans of work and outline educational objectives.

Some LEAs are more helpful than others, but parents who are teaching their children at home tell Bullying Online they enjoy doing so and find it beneficial. Local support groups mean that children can have plenty of contact with other home educated pupils.

There are a number of excellent groups advising parents thinking of this option. Their contact details are in the Bullying Online links page.

Home tuition by the LEASome parents who remove their children from school due to bullying think they will be entitled to home tuition if the child is too afraid to go to school. This is not the case.

LEA-funded home tuition is very scarce and usually reserved for pupils who are off school due to illness. The maximum a child is likely to get would be around five hours a week.

However, LEAs are bound to make provision if the non-attendance has medical support - usually with a note from the doctor. There are DCSF guidelines available on this at www.dfes.gov.uk.

Contact us on help@bullying.co.uk if you need more help.

Other pages in this sectionBullying policies / Role of the DCSF / Is my child being bullied? / School bus bullies
Contacting the Governors and LEAa / Happy slapping / Internet safety advice for parents / Internet abuse
Is my child a bully? / If your child is bullying others / Do you share blame? / Dealing with an older bully
Teacher bullying / Home schooling / Bullying in sport / Parents' panel - Have your say
Who can help on racism / Parents' survey results / Moving your child to a new school / Pupils' survey results
Taking legal action / Bullying outside school / Independent and private schools / Parents' problem page
Model letters to help your complaint / National Bullying Survey 2006 / Cyber bullying introduction / Dangerous websites
Mobile phone problems / Practical help with racism / Dealing with racism / Internet scams
How does bullying make a child feel? / Dealing with a younger bully / Teachers' survey results / Adults' survey results
Contacting the school / Access to pupil records