When it comes to home education in the UK, there’s no shortage of opinions—and misconceptions. Whether you’re considering home education for your family or simply curious about how it works, you’ve probably heard a few things that cause you to hesitate. I know it did for us! You can read more about why we’ve chosen home education here.

In this post, I’m addressing 3 of the most common misconceptions about home education. From the idea that home educated children are unsocialised to the belief that parents need formal teaching qualifications, let’s dive into the truth behind these myths and see what home education really looks like in the UK.

These 3 subjects always come up when I talk about home ed

1. “Home ed kids don’t have a social life”

   – Reality: Many people believe that home-educated children are isolated and lack social interaction. But home education communities are thriving in the UK, with numerous local groups, classes, and activities where children can socialise and make friends with children of all different ages, backgrounds and abilities. Home-educated children actually have more diverse social experiences which aren’t limited to an hour school lunchtime. 

2. “Parents should be qualified teachers”

   – Reality: There’s a misconception that only parents with teaching qualifications can successfully home educate their children. The UK law does not require parents to have any formal teaching credentials. Many parents use a wide range of resources, including online courses, tutors, and community groups, to provide a well-rounded education tailored to their child’s needs. And we can learn along the way! My son has taught me so much about planets, dinosaurs and now facts about the Frozen World (thanks to his Yoto Player). My point is, it doesn’t matter if you lack knowledge on a subject because you’re providing the space to learn anyway! 

3. “Home education is inferior to traditional schooling”

   – Reality: Meh, obviously you know my opinion! Some believe that home education is less rigorous or structured compared to traditional schooling but it totally depends on each family’s choice. Home education does allow for a REALLY personalised learning experience that can be just as academically robust, if not more so. Parents can adapt the curriculum to their child’s pace, interests, and learning style, often resulting in deeper understanding and greater engagement. Home educated children in the UK have successfully gone on to higher education and various career paths, disproving this myth. Over and over again. 

Say it ain’t so!

The thing is, because of the freedom and individual choices families have with home educating, there’s no one answer fits all. I really struggle with fitting in time for all the many home ed groups available in my area. There’s also the factor of age—where J is only 4, a lot of home ed groups are aimed at age 7 and above. 

There’s also the challenge of the work and home-ed life balance. As Sam works most days, we do have a constant schedule juggle. I do work most late evenings to make up for lost daytime work hours. But what family doesn’t have their struggles? And this is what works for us. 

I’ll be writing more about the pros and cons of socialising as home-edders next week!