Home Education: How to Get Started

Thinking about home education can feel both exciting and completely overwhelming. Where do you start? What do you need to teach? Do you need a curriculum? How do you know if you're doing enough?

The good news is that home education doesn't have to look like school at home.

There are many different ways to home educate, and one of the wonderful things about it is that you can find an approach that works for your family, your children and your everyday life.

Whether you're considering home education for the first time or you're already on the journey and wondering if there's another way, this guide will help you understand the basics and explore some of the most popular home education styles.

What Is Home Education?

Home education, or homeschooling, simply means educating your child outside of a traditional school setting.

However, beyond that, home education can look very different from one family to another.

One family might spend their mornings working through workbooks, while another might spend the day outdoors exploring nature, reading stories and following their children's interests.

Some families follow a structured curriculum. Others learn almost entirely through real-life experiences and child-led interests.

There isn't one "right" way to homeschool.

The beauty of home education is that you can create an education that fits your family rather than trying to make your family fit an education system.

So, How Do You Start Homeschooling?

You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin.

In fact, one of the best pieces of advice I can give is:

Start simple.

1. Find Out the Legal Requirements

Before you begin, find out what the rules are where you live.

In England, parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their children receive a suitable full-time education, either by attending school or otherwise. Home education can be provided at home or elsewhere, and it does not have to follow the National Curriculum.

Rules differ across the UK, so make sure you check the guidance for your particular area.

2. Think About Why You Want to Home Educate

Before choosing a curriculum or buying a mountain of resources, think about what you actually want homeschooling to give your family.

Perhaps you're looking for:

• more flexibility

• more time together

• a gentler approach to learning

• more time outdoors

• the ability to follow your child's interests

• more creative learning

• a different approach to education

• the freedom to learn at your child's own pace

  
  

Your reasons can help guide the choices you make later.

3. Get to Know Your Child

This sounds obvious, but one of the biggest advantages of home education is that you can tailor learning to your child. And for your child to enjoy the experience, it is important you think about:

What are they interested in?

Dinosaurs? drawing? space? animals? history? building things? music?

How do they learn best?

Do they love books? need to move around? enjoy practical activities? like working independently?

What makes them curious?

Follow those little sparks of curiosity. They can become wonderful starting points for learning.

4. Don't Try to Recreate School

This is something many new home educators struggle with. It's very easy to imagine that home education means sitting at a table from 9am until 3pm completing worksheets.

It doesn't.

You have the opportunity to rethink what education can look like. This might be a morning involving reading together, a maths lesson, baking, going for a woodland walk and looking up something your child discovered.

Learning doesn't have to be divided into neat little boxes.

Different Home Education Styles

There are several different approaches to home education. You don't necessarily have to choose just one! Many families use a mixture of different styles depending on their children, their circumstances and the season of life they're in.

1. Traditional Homeschooling

Traditional homeschooling is probably the style that looks most like school.

You might use:

• maths and English textbooks

• workbooks

• a structured curriculum

• spelling programmes

• science textbooks

• regular lessons

• tests or assessments

• 
  

This approach can be a great choice for families who like structure and knowing exactly what needs to be covered. It can also be helpful when children are working towards formal qualifications such as GCSEs.

Best for: Families who enjoy routine, structure and clearly defined learning goals.

2. Charlotte Mason

The Charlotte Mason approach places a strong emphasis on living books, nature, narration, short lessons and developing good habits.

Rather than relying heavily on textbooks, children are encouraged to read quality books and tell you what they have learned.

Nature study is also an important part of the approach.

A Charlotte Mason-inspired morning might include a nature walk, reading a chapter of a wonderful book, narrating the story back to you, practising handwriting and spending time on art or music.

Best for: Families who love books, nature, gentle learning and a broad education.

3. Montessori

The Montessori approach encourages children to become independent learners.

The environment is carefully prepared so children can explore and practise skills for themselves.

There is a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, practical life skills, sensory experiences and learning through doing.

Montessori materials are often designed to allow children to explore concepts independently.

Best for: Families who enjoy hands-on learning, independence and carefully prepared learning environments.

4. Waldorf / Steiner

Waldorf-inspired education places a strong emphasis on imagination, creativity, nature, rhythm and storytelling.

Art, music, crafts, movement and practical activities can be woven into everyday learning.

Young children may have plenty of time for imaginative play rather than being pushed towards formal academics too early.

Seasonal rhythms and nature can also play a big role.

Best for: Families who value creativity, imagination, nature, storytelling and a slower rhythm of learning.

5. Unschooling

Unschooling is a much more child-led approach. Instead of following a predetermined curriculum, learning develops naturally from a child's interests and everyday experiences.

If a child becomes fascinated by dinosaurs, for example, that interest might lead to books, documentaries, drawing, geography, history, measurements, writing and museum visits.

The parent becomes more of a facilitator, helping the child find resources and opportunities to explore their interests.

Best for: Families who want a highly flexible, interest-led approach and are comfortable stepping away from traditional school structures.

6. Unit Studies

Unit studies bring several subjects together around one topic.

For example, you might choose The Vikings as your theme.

You could explore:

History: Who were the Vikings?

Geography: Where did the Vikings live and travel?

English: Read Viking stories and write a Viking saga.

Art: Create Viking-inspired artwork.

Science: Explore Viking ships and how they floated.

Maths: Work with measurements, maps or timelines.

Instead of teaching every subject separately, you create a connected learning experience.

Best for: Families who love themed learning, projects and making connections between subjects.

7. Eclectic Homeschooling

This is perhaps one of the most common approaches because it allows you to take the things you love from different methods.

You might use a traditional maths curriculum, Charlotte Mason-style nature study, Waldorf-inspired art and crafts, unit studies for history and plenty of child-led learning.

And that's perfectly okay.

You don't have to fit neatly into one home education box.

You can create your own approach.

What About Socialisation?

One of the first questions many new home educators hear is:

"But what about socialisation?"

Homeschooling doesn't mean children have to spend all day at home.

Homeschooling families often find social opportunities through:

• homeschool groups

• forest schools

• sports clubs

• music lessons

• art groups

• Scouts and Guides

• Community activities

• Libraries

• Museums

• Volunteering

• Meet-ups with other families

  
  

And socialisation doesn't have to mean spending time exclusively with children the same age. Home educating can give children opportunities to interact with people of many different ages and backgrounds.

What About Curriculum?

You may find yourself falling down the rabbit hole of home education resources!

There are so many books, programmes, worksheets, subscriptions and curricula available that it can quickly become overwhelming.

You don't need to buy everything.

Start by thinking about what your child needs and what approach suits your family.

You might choose a complete curriculum. Or you might create your own.

You could use books from the library, online resources, educational websites, nature walks, documentaries, museums and hands-on projects.

And remember: if something isn't working, you can change it. (or even abandon it altogether!).

You Don't Have to Get It Right From Day One

This is perhaps the most important thing I would tell a new home-educating family.

Give yourself permission to experiment.

You might start with a very structured routine and discover that your family thrives with more flexibility. You might begin with unschooling and later decide that your child needs more structure. You might try a curriculum and realise it isn't the right fit.

That's okay.

Your homeschooling style can change.

Your child's needs will change.

Your family circumstances will change.

And your home education can change with them.

A Simple Homeschooling Day

If you're completely new to homeschooling, don't worry about creating a complicated timetable.

A simple day could look something like:

Morning

Reading together, Maths, English or writing

Late morning

A nature walk, practical activity or project

Afternoon

Art, science, history, music, cooking, crafts or child-led learning

Throughout the day

Reading, conversations, helping around the house, playing, exploring and following interests.

That's enough.

You don't need six hours of formal lessons for meaningful learning to happen.

Most of All, Find What Works for YOUR Family

There is no perfect home educating method, there is no magical curriculum that will make everything easy, and there is certainly no need to compare your home education with someone else's!

One family's home education might be beautifully organised with shelves of curriculum and a daily timetable, another might spend most of the day outside, another might follow their children's interests, another might combine several approaches.

All of these can be home education!

The wonderful thing about home education is that you have the freedom to create something that works for your children.

• Start small.

• Get to know your child.

• Follow their curiosity.

• Try different things.

• Keep what works.

• Let go of what doesn't.

• And remember that home educating is not about recreating school at home.

  
  

It's about creating an education that allows your child to learn, grow, explore and flourish.

And sometimes, the best place to begin is simply by asking:

"What would make learning joyful for my child?"

That question can take you a surprisingly long way.