The Not Back To School Day
Curious about home education? What we do all day (the good bits).
It’s back to school here in Scotland but it’s a Monday like any other Monday for us.
What do you do all day?
I have been asked this question more times than I can count recently by families curious about home education/unschooling or flexi schooling. So I thought it deserved a post which I could share with you all.
I do not delve into the reasons why we decided to home educate or our values. It is simply a documentation of what we do currently and I hope it will enable you to visualise some of the many possibilities out there. I hope it will also answer questions about the practicalities of money/time and how as a family we find balance between our passions, creative work, earning a living, personal and family life. I welcome a dialogue with you and any questions/comments you may have.
This is snap shot: ONE day in our life. A day out of ONE week, in ONE month and does not reflect ‘home education’ in general. I have tried to authentically capture our day, yet it is nevertheless seen through a lens of positivity as you do not see the moments of meltdown or conflict which occurred!
There is only one very brief sighting of my partner! This is not to say that he is uninvolved with, or unsupportive of home education - quite the opposite but Monday is his work day.
My finger has been hesitating over the ‘send’ button due to an incredibly busy few months painting my latest picture book, but also sitting in acknowledgment of my privilege, which I would like to recognise before sharing what feels a very personal account, and as such a vulnerable insight into our family life. All those who appear have given consent.
I am a white, educate woman. I was brought up in a family of artists with modest earnings but with a generous growth mindset. In watching the video of ‘our day’ I am acutely aware of our privilege but also that living differently for us, leans heavily on the investment of time and passion over money. We are making change. Raising children in a consent-based, self-directed nature-led environment and questioning the way we live. I am proud of this.
Here we are - three years into home educating (skip to the end of the post to see a video of ‘a day in the life’ from 2021). The shape of our days has evolved with the children and I am aware it will look different next year or even next week. Flexibility is key and I have learnt not be concerned with what could happen and focus on what works now. If it is not working, you have the power to change direction. If you feel your family needs something but it’s not available then you have the power to make it happen (like The Nest).Â
We travel, we spend time with family in the Borders, children are ill, plans change but on this Monday the 10th of June we are in Glasgow and our day looked like this (music by Crooked Still)
What Our Week Looks Like
Steiner group
An informal collective of three families that we set up in 2023.Â
One of the parents is a trained Steiner School teacher and teaches the three older children. The other adults facilitate free play with the younger children before joining together for snack and painting or knitting session.Â
10-1 Monday and Tuesday. 10-11:30 Wednesday.Â
£20 a month donation per family towards materials
Wolf Pack Intergenerational Dance Group
Tuesday 6-7:30Â
Myself and Leo attend
FREE
Glasgow Home Ed
Wednesday 12-4Â
FREE
Swimming Lesson
Thursday 10:30 - 11Â
£100 a month
NHS Speech TherapyÂ
Thursday 1-1:30
FREE (for Solenne but Leo attends as well)
Circus Fitness
Thursday 6-7
Myself and Leo attend
£7 per person
The Nest
A consent based, self-directed, nature-led learning community for young people aged 5-16 which I founded with Gina Lundy-Clark in 2022.
Leo
Friday 10-4
£30
Woodland’s Outdoor Kindergarten (WOK)
Solenne
Friday 10:30 - 3:30
FREE Council funded place
French School
Saturday 10-12
Leo and Solenne
£35 per child per month
Play Time
We value free play and make sure there is plenty space for play with friends, family, siblings and solo. It’s always self-directed. I am present, generally doing things around the house and available to help facilitate, but not entertain!
Home education/un-schooling is a whole family/community, collaborative endeavour. For us it is not just about the children. It needs to work for everyone. Look out for my next newsletter where I will illustrate how I fit in my creative work and how home educating opens up time that I otherwise would not have if I worked from 9-5.
I am fascinated to learn how others make home education work for their family and also to hear questions coming from those who don’t currently home educate but are considering it. So please, if you so wish, leave a comment below.
Video I made (what we do all day) as part of a course on ‘Rewilding Education’ in 2021: