Finding a local home education group

Start with the distance you can manage on an ordinary wet Tuesday. A group within that journey is easier to return to when your child strikes up a friendship. Education Otherwise keeps a directory of local groups. Libraries, museums and council family information services may also know of home educator sessions.

Making a first enquiry

Give the organiser the ages of the children coming, the kind of activity they enjoy and any practical questions. There is no need to post your child’s full name, school history or home address in a public group. Ask whether you need to book, who stays with the children, and what happens when a sibling is outside the advertised age range.

Find out where people actually meet. A park may have several entrances, and a community hall can have a step at one door and level access at another. If a child needs to know what a room will be like, ask for a description of the entrance and the first few minutes of the session.

Beyond the first visit

A child watching from the edge can still be having a good time. Agree on a meeting point and a time to decide whether to stay. Afterwards, ask about a particular moment rather than asking them to rate the whole group. If they liked making something alongside another child, a shared project may suit them better than an organised icebreaker.

For an occasional longer trip, browse home education events. For a session you could bring to a group, try the workshop finder.