All around the world, many parents have decided to home educate their children. This can be for many reasons, including: loss of faith in mainstream state education; concern for the wellbeing of children who struggle with coping – for various personal reasons – in mainstream educational environments; and a desire to be more directly involved with their children’s education and learning choices.
Home education is not new, but it has been gaining some momentum. In the 1980’s, I attended a conference on ‘Education Otherwise’, where a number of speakers shared their experiences, both pros and cons, of teaching at home.
To quote from their website introduction:
“At the very beginning of education, even as long as 27,000 years ago, every child was educated ‘otherwise’ than at school, simply because schools did not exist.”
For those who feel home educating is more than they’d wish to take on, but want a different educational environment for their children, Steiner Schools have also existed for many years. You can find out more from the links below:
Montessori schools are educational institutions that follow a child-centred, hands-on approach to learning, emphasizing independence and self-directed activity. Developed by Dr Maria Montessori, these schools use mixed-age classrooms, self-paced learning, and specific Montessori materials to foster creativity, problem-solving, and real-world skills. Instead of traditional lecturing, “teachers” act as guides, observing and facilitating as children choose their own work within a prepared environment.
Independent School Parent Steiner schools: an alternative educational system
Waldorf education location map (UK) Waldorf UK
Waldorf UK is the national representative body for Steiner Waldorf education in the UK. An association of schools and early years settings it has members from across the UK offering Waldorf education.
Steiner Waldorf World In 1919 the first Waldorf school was founded in Stuttgart – today there are more than 3,000 Steiner, Waldorf or anthroposophical schools and kindergartens, worldwide.
There are also parents of children who have got together to support one another, with their children’s learning. One website is WiseBook Buddies – 3 Mothers and their children.
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