The Blue Peter Badge
Most of us are probably familiar with the iconic Blue Peter Badge, a special award that is linked to the long running television programme. But in case you are not…
Educational Freedom is a non-profit organisation providing Home Education information and support. Our primary purpose is ensuring all Home Educators have access to FREE information and support. We aim to provide everything you could ever need to know about Home Education.
A great way of ensuring your Home Education journey goes smoothly is to read all of this website. The menu at the top will help you navigate each section.
On each page of our website you will find a video with the audio of that page. (This is a new feature so give us some time to create them all and add them).
Making the decision to Home Educate can be daunting. But be assured that there is plenty of support out there! There are lots of families that have been in your situation, and we have supported tens of thousands of them.
Read through our website to learn all about Home Education. Use the menu to navigate through all of our pages especially the WHAT TO DO FIRST page for your country.
Here’s a sneak peak at our FB page feed where we share factual info as well as fun memes. Drop us a like, a follow and come chat to other Home Educators.
What influenced your decision the most? What information are you missing in order to make the choice? Ask us what you need, or take a look at our website. Image description: A cartoon in two frames. The top frame shows a hand hovering between two red buttons labelled "Home Educate" and "School". The bottom frame is a close up of a superhero sweating and mopping his brow with a white handkerchief. Our logo and website are at the bottom of the frame.
We've had a lot of question recently concerning EHCPs, SENs etc and school nurses. If you have any queries have a quick read through our blog post and any questions please dont hesitate to ask. -
We're seeing a lot of adverts for Home Education services that charge for their service or have a membership fee, we need to remind you that you never have to pay, NEVER! We offer the same service and more, completely FREE! Have a read of what we offer...
Many new home educators and even some long term among us often wonder what other peoples days look like and of course there are no hard and fast rules so we wrote this fabulous blog post to help you see what different styles and ages days could look like - https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/examples-of-home-ed-life/
An old one but still so true! Who else agrees? 🙌🏻 My son William learns best when he is outdoors. Rather than sitting at a desk learning about the different weathers, he is out there experiencing it first hand! Instead of reading about the names of different trees and flowers at a desk, he is climbing them, picking them, smelling them! Instead of struggling with maths worksheets at a desk he is outside, counting acorns, measuring twigs and making shapes out of pebbles! 🌳🌸 Shelby 🌿
Michael Rosen sums up the education system wonderfully! This is what destroyed my youngest faith in education. Asked to name a famous black person they replied - Nelson Mandela (half south african so they knew all about it) teacher informed them that was the incorrect answer! She wanted Rosa Parks as the answer and complete dismissed the view point theres might be more than one!
Applying for a Blue Peter Badge is easier than you might think and open to anyone from 5 to 15 years old. The criteria for each badge are easily achievable, and take little documentation. This has the advantage of being appealing to children who are put off by high demand or perceived academic tasks. It enables them to work towards a nationally recognised award that celebrates their achievements. For home education, working towards or applying for one of the many Blue Peter Badges has value beyond the free entry into attractions. Many children enjoy having their hobbies, interests, kind deeds, talents or moments of achievement celebrated and this is a very tangible way of showing achievement in these areas. It can help motivate children to try new activities and provide a framework for engaging in new projects. To read the full blog visit www.educationalfreedom.org.uk or for more information on applying for badges or a list of free attractions visit the Blue Peter Website at bbc.co.uk/bluepeter or search for Blue Peter Badges in your search engine. #BluePeterBadges #homeeducation #award #freedaysout
Do you celebrate Halloween/ Samhein? How do you bring it into teaching in your household? We're looking at the art this year and trying to copy one of Martha Stewarts templates!
We detail why Home Education visits are a risk not worth taking, and why samples of learning should not be supplied to the LA. Remember, always reply to the LA, but it can be on your terms. https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/why-accepting-la-visits-and-or-providing-samples-of-work-is-dangerous-for-all-home-educators/?fbclid=IwY2xjawF5wZBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUw08ty_aASJjagmWEq2IxVnfImecVcHruAv-59eQ81C94iwG0jw3y8T9g_aem_iUOOormLuaw0WsDInwspJw
With so many celebrations just around the corner, this time of year can be equally exciting and daunting. This can especially be the case if you are part of a neurodiverse family. With many sensory experiences that are difficult to avoid, and the changes that are happening, this can be a time of unpredictablilty, sensory overload and general overwhelm for many, including those facilitating the education, What changes and adaptations do you use to make these events as manageable and enjoyable as possible for the family? To read the full blog visit www.educationalfreedom.org.uk/celebrating-the-neurodiverse-way/ #celebrations #neurodiversity #homeeducation #sensoryoverload #calmcelebrations ~
It's easy to think things won't affect you, or that someone else will fix it, that attitude could screw home educators over big time! Do you want home educators rights to be diminished? It's time to step up.. we've even written the letter for you ...
Shocking data indicates some LAs are misusing their powers, are you in one of these LAs> Please read this short article and get in touch if you've been served an SAO or s437(1) in the last year or so.
As we move into autumn on our first year out of the school system, we are overwhelmed with the opportunities we have to enjoy this time of year rather than dread the dark school runs and long evenings battling homework when it feels like bedtime. Does the change of seasons affect your home education as it is ours? What new joys are you finding without the constraints of school? To read the full blog visit www.educationalfreedom.org.uk/changing-seasons-changing-opportunities #autumn #homeeducation #educationalfreedom #seasons
Did you know there’s no legal definition on how many hours a full time home education should be? Most home educators will tell you that learning is happening during every waking hour and most of it isn’t done with a workbook sat to the table. Check out Home Education Day to Day on our website - https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/ Reading a book in bed before starting the day. Discussions about the vikings whilst you eat breakfast. Discussing wildlife and seasonal changes whilst walking the dog. Chatting about area and circumference whilst mowing the lawn. Learning times tables bouncing on the trampoline. Learning algebraic quadratic equations via a YouTube creator. Watching livestreams of nature reserves or NASA. Those who choose GCSEs can often cover the whole syllabus in a few months having no prior formal school type education. Anything is possible with home education!
The minute my child switches off from learning and understanding a subject we swap to something different and re-approach it later in a different way. Do you follow your child's interests to help facilitate their learning? I have learnt so much more home edding than I did at school! #ukhomeed #homeeddad #homeedmum #homeedplanning #homeeducate #learningfromhome
As home educators you are responsible for the education, part of that is being able to liaise with the LA, our guide helps talk you through writing a report and that is all you should need* Not only is it step by step but we also now have examples of what the LA's need. Never pay to have your report checked and do not rely on report checking as a guarantee of acceptance despite what some groups tell you. *if you have a disability or reason to struggle to understand the guide then of course ask us for help
Today we explored the local RSPB brooks and noticed how alive it is with song birds and so many other gorgeous birds. So we went home, looked them up, researched about them online and then created some superb bird treats to hang in the garden. We used Gardeners World but used egg cartons rather than yoghurt pots https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-make-fat-cakes-for-birds/ What have you all been learning this week?
As you know we love learning around an interest and at the moment its the fabulous Lord of the Rings and Tolkiens world. With that not only are we studying the books and films and biography but we're also deep diving into cartography, learning to reading, and designing maps! With it we are incorporating (if you follow the NC we dont and you dont need to either) KS4 geography, English Lit & Lang, drama, history, PE, com sci, D&T, Art etc and a WHOLEEE load more) Do you all do this too? And what are you all learning about the moment? (PS also just how fab is this map someone created?) #ukhomeed #homeeddad #homeedmum #learningfromhome #homeedplanning #homeeducate #homeeducationrocks #homeeducationlife #homeedideas #homeedLA #homeeducationadventure #homelearning #learningathome
While we appreciate some of you have lovely meetings with the LA this is NOT the same for every person, its often not the same for a family within your area. This is why we recommend to keep everything in writing - to protect you! #ukhomeed #homeeddad #homeedmum #homeedplanning #learningfromhome #homeeducate #homeeducationlife
I was recently asked how animal welfare features in our home education. Once I had given it some thought I was quite taken aback with just how fundamental it is to both our overall philosophy and the learning of specific subjects and topics. We use nature for recreation, exercise, social time and mindfulness. I can engage the kids in most topics if it can be made relevant to animals or the environment. From rescuing cats to taking on neglected turtles, our daily home life revolves around the health and happiness of our mini zoo. And our holidays and weekends involve visiting nature reserves or taking long walks. Home education has increased our opportunity to teach the importance of the natural world, our impact upon it and our responsibility towards it. I would very much consider our education around this to be informal. We search information from google and youtube and use local resources to answer questions as they arise. And even my book averse daughter will happily pick up a field guide to identify her latest finding. My younger daughter is very keen to pursue a career in animal welfare and I hope to continue to nurture this pattern and provide the foundation for any more formal learning she may wish to aim towards. But otherwise we learn and explore with no structure or expectations. But this got me wondering how similar or different this is to other home educating families. Does nature naturally shape your daily lives, or do you make specific efforts to incorporate it within your existing lives? Do your kids have a natural passion and desire to make a positive change to the natural world or do you struggle to get them to see the connection between human behaviour and the future of the planet? What resources do you use and do you put any structure around this? Please share your tips and ideas for engaging your kids with the natural world. #naturalworld #animalwelfare #climatechange #homeeducation #environment
PLEASE SHARE Are you dreading applying for a reception place for your child? Is your child in school and not happy? Do you feel your child could be learning more? Do you want to travel? Or just like the idea of not utilising school? Then home education is an option. School is not compulsory, a suitable education is, what that looks like is down to you and your child. Home education is rarely what people expect it to be, the kid can still access exams, make friends, go to college, get a job etc. you just get all the added extras of the child learning what interests them, in a way that suits them. Read the Educational Freedom website for more info.
A simple bit of info for new home educators. With a simple message. Home education is not school at home. And ‘professionals’ often are not giving correct advice. You’re in charge of your kids education, make sure you know all the facts. #homeedmum #homeedplanning #learningfromhome #homeeducate #homeeducationrocks #homeeducationlife #homeedLA #homeedideas
"A full time education suited to their needs and abilities" But whats actually full time?! This is a question we're often asked and so we wrote a blog post about it - https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/what-does-full-time-home-education-mean/ #homeedmum #homeedplanning #learningfromhome #homeeducationrocks #homeeducate #homeeducationlife #homeedideas #homeedLA
Tough to read post. Home educators, do you bury your head in the sand when it comes to politics? It’s time to pull your head out and do something. You can not pretend everything is going to be ok, because it won’t without your input. Over the coming months we expect new EHE guidance and the children not in school register. Both will screw us over. The hard truth is we need everyone to step up and be heard. Your voice matters and will make a difference. Being indifferent, being scared to reply, forgetting to do it, will litererally erode home educators freedoms and rights. YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART. It’s a simple 2 part task that will make a massive impact on the future of home education. Task 1) email your MP ‘Dear MP, my name is x and I live at y. I home educate my children. I do this because of z. GIVE POSITIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW HOME ED WORKS FOR YOU. I am hoping I can ask you to support me and other home educators by not supporting the home education element of the children not in school register. Our children are in education and the LA have plenty of legal powers if concerns about the suitability of the education becomes known. A register will make us more prone to bad LA behaviour and will villainise us. GIVE EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOUR LA DOES BADLY. We are doing nothing wrong and should not be treated as criminals on a register. I wish to also ask that you do your part in the discussions around new EHE guidance, as you’ll read in this research (ATTACH THE LINK BELOW) LAs have more than enough powers, powers they misuse, allowing them to overstep in new guidance will leave many more families harassed and bullied. I appreciate your support and will be happy to answer any questions. ‘ You have to include your address so your MP knows you are local. They will not share it. Task 2) write to your EHE team (you can do this from an email address they don’t link to you/stay anonymous). ‘I am writing to ask if you have read this research? ADD LINK. Local groups have a POSITIVE/NEGATIVE (DELETE AS NECESSARY) of our LA, and I think it would be a positive move to read the research and use the information in it to improve the local home education service. ‘ IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT YOUR LA IS LIKE THEN COMMENT BELOW AND ONE OF THE TEAM WILL FIND OUT. The link to include https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/home-education-research-survey-data-analysis-and-review/ Or you can go to the link and download the PDF to include.
We were asked recently how play actually counts as learning. I couldn't think of a better way to explain this then by Legos wonderful breakdown (they also have some great games on their site: "Because child development is beautifully complex, we take a holistic view and highlight the importance of children’s emotional, cognitive, physical, social and creative skills and how these complement and interact with one another - • Emotional skills: Understand, manage and express emotions by building self-awareness and handling impulses, as well as staying motivated and confident in the face of difficulties. • Cognitive skills: Concentration, problem solving and flexible thinking by learning to tackle complex tasks and building effective strategies to identify solutions. • Physical skills: Being physically active, understanding movement and space through practicing sensory-motor skills, developing spatial understanding and nurturing an active and healthy body. • Social skills: Collaborate, communicate and understand other people’s perspectives through sharing ideas, negotiating rules and building empathy. • Creative skills: Coming up with ideas, expressing them and transforming them into reality by creating associations, symbolising and representing ideas and providing meaningful experiences for others"
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