Home education — often referred to as homeschooling in the US — is becoming more common in the UK and around the world. Every family’s journey looks different, and the decision to home educate usually comes after a lot of thought. Some parents plan for it from the start, while others arrive at the decision unexpectedly, sometimes through circumstances beyond their control.
For me, the reason was COVID back in 2021. The pandemic made me reassess what was best for my family, and home education became the most practical and safe option. Like many parents, I wanted stability and a way to continue learning without the constant disruptions of lockdowns, restrictions, and health concerns.
But COVID isn’t the only reason families make this choice. Here are some of the most common ones:
1. Concerns About School Environment
Some parents feel that school isn’t the right fit for their child. Issues such as bullying, peer pressure, or large class sizes can make it difficult for children to thrive. Home education allows for a calmer, more supportive environment.
2. Special Educational Needs
Children with additional needs often benefit from the flexibility of home education. Parents can adapt learning to suit their child’s pace, interests, and abilities in a way that isn’t always possible in mainstream schools.
3. Different Learning Styles
Not every child learns best in a traditional classroom setting. Some children need more hands-on, creative, or practical approaches. Home education gives parents the chance to build lessons around their child’s natural learning style.
4. Religious or Cultural Reasons
For some families, home education is a way to ensure their values, beliefs, and traditions are part of their child’s daily education.
5. Lifestyle and Flexibility
Home education offers freedom. Families can travel, set their own schedules, or take advantage of real-world learning opportunities outside the classroom.
6. Dissatisfaction with the Curriculum
Some parents feel that the national curriculum doesn’t suit their child, or they want to include subjects and skills not typically covered in schools. Home education allows them to take control of what’s taught.
7. Mental Health and Wellbeing
The pressures of school can sometimes affect a child’s mental health. Home education can provide a gentler pace and more time for self-care, hobbies, and family life.
8. COVID and Health Concerns
Like me, many families turned to home education because of COVID. Health risks, constant school closures, and the uncertainty of the pandemic highlighted the value of being able to continue learning at home. For some, what started as a temporary solution became a long-term choice.
Finding What Works for You
There’s no one “right” reason to home educate—just the one that works for your family. Whether it’s about flexibility, safety, or giving your child a more tailored education, home education can open the door to a new way of learning.
If you’re considering this path, having some structure helps. That’s where planners/log books can make life easier—they give you a way to stay organised without losing the freedom that makes home education so valuable. I created my own to make planning simpler and more flexible, and they’ve been a real help in keeping track of everything we covered over the year.
