The Sheffield NOT back to school megathread

hennypenny · 28-08-2008, 22:57

There is a back to school megathread going so I thought I would start one for all those whose children aren't going back to school, have never been to school and/or are never going to go to school

It is that time of year when all the fun places that we have been avoiding all summer are now empty again and available for our exclusive use. We can stay for hours in the swimming baths again instead of being given a band and asked to get out after an hour

We can play in the parks safe in the knowledge that the crowds are safely indoors. We have the museums back to spend as long as we want without being squashed against the cases. We can go on holiday while the weather is still decent and revel in the lower prices.

Whoopee

What are you doing to celebrate not going back to school?

Is anyone just starting home education for the first time, feeling anxious and excited all at once?

Zebra · 29-08-2008, 01:10

Having pre-schoolers or pre home schoolers I also look forward to having the rest of gen pop back in school, it makes it so much easier to keep an eye on the gruesome twosome in public and , like you said, we're less limited to times when visiting places.
Now we've moved house we're in a much better area for schools so it looks promising but even then, there are other possibilities and I'm still a couple of years off decision making yet.

hennypenny · 29-08-2008, 09:48

I am really looking forward to the group meetings again as our venue is used by a holiday club in the summer, so we have to stop meeting for the school holidays. Although my daughter has been seeing her friends throughout the summer, I haven't had much of a chance to catch up with the other parents, so it will be great to sit and have a natter

Then drama group will be starting again, and the Japanese classes, plus there are loads of new activities starting running this term such as ballroom dancing, art group, music group etc. etc, so it is back to being a taxi again, we need the holidays for a rest

The group is going away for an adventure weekend in October, so we will actually have a child free weekend

Our first in 22 years! It is so exciting

waxonwaxoff · 29-08-2008, 09:48

I have to admit, it was a lot nicerat the paddling pools before the schools broke up for the holidays. It was just mayhem after. Ah back to peace and quiet.

waxonwaxoff · 29-08-2008, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by hennypenny

The group is going away for an adventure weekend in October, so we will actually have a child free weekend

Our first in 22 years! It is so exciting

A weekend alone with your husband Hennypenny. Will we hear the pitter patter of tiny feet in 9 months?

hennypenny · 29-08-2008, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by waxonwaxoff

A weekend alone with your husband Hennypenny. Will we hear the pitter patter of tiny feet in 9 months?

Eeeek - don't say things like that I will have a heart attack! I hope those days are well behind me now! I think I will just wait for the grandkids to come along, thanks!

spritulist · 29-08-2008, 10:43

kids get toooooooomany holidays and tooooooolong for some parents

waxonwaxoff · 29-08-2008, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by hennypenny

Eeeek - don't say things like that I will have a heart attack! I hope those days are well behind me now! I think I will just wait for the grandkids to come along, thanks!

spritulist · 29-08-2008, 10:46

i live at the side od a school...parents go by each day saying ill be glad when their back at school they are driving me up the wall/or bonkers their always on the want

spritulist · 29-08-2008, 10:47

may be a summer school is needed so parents need a bit of time to do their own thing as kids get bored..............

babyboom · 29-08-2008, 11:17

I agree with everything you've said Hennypenny, we can start going out again now the masses are back at school

Sheilabowing · 29-08-2008, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritulist

may be a summer school is needed so parents need a bit of time to do their own thing as kids get bored..............

It's only 6 weeks. I don't think it's long enough.

tweetypie · 29-08-2008, 20:29

but the roads are so quiet when the kids are on their hols-no school runs-it is commuting bliss- although busy in meadowhall, full of kids just passing time.

Deerobe · 29-08-2008, 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyboom

I agree with everything you've said Hennypenny, we can start going out again now the masses are back at school

I agree too. My son has not been swimming for 6 weeks. We can get back to normal now!! Do any of you have secondary school age children??

hennypenny · 30-08-2008, 07:02

Hi Deerobe

My daughter is 12, nearly 13. There is a big group of over 11's at the local home ed group, and we have managed to secure funding from the Youth Opportunities fund, so we have lots of activities running this term for the over 13's. We go swimming once per fortnight at Hillsborough leisure centre too.

If you would like to come along to the group, pm me for details

Ouija · 30-08-2008, 10:33

My son isn't school age yet so he won't be 'back to school' this September either. I am also hoping to educate him 'otherwise'. At the moment not sure if that will be with tutors or via the net or by me *shudders*.

I'm definitely looking forward to being able to take him to places like soft play areas without him getting knocked over or trampled on by the bigger kids.

rachfivec · 30-08-2008, 14:09

My daughter will not be going back and I will be glad when things get back into routine and quiet again

hennypenny · 30-08-2008, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by OuijaMan

My son isn't school age yet so he won't be 'back to school' this September either. I am also hoping to educate him 'otherwise'. At the moment not sure if that will be with tutors or via the net or by me *shudders*.

I'm definitely looking forward to being able to take him to places like soft play areas without him getting knocked over or trampled on by the bigger kids.

There are a couple of playgroups running for people planning to home ed, plus there are a lot of younger ones come along to the weekly home ed group meeting, so if you want to investigate home ed, you would be welcome to come along

It is often good to meet other people who have already started home ed, as you can get an idea for how it works out, and get advice on things you might not be sure about.

Ouija · 30-08-2008, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by hennypenny

There are a couple of playgroups running for people planning to home ed, plus there are a lot of younger ones come along to the weekly home ed group meeting, so if you want to investigate home ed, you would be welcome to come along

It is often good to meet other people who have already started home ed, as you can get an idea for how it works out, and get advice on things you might not be sure about.

I've been thinking about home education since I was pregnant and seem to get more and more determined to do it every day. I do keep having moments of doubt whether I'd be able to give my son the education he deserves as I am not qualified to teach. I know you don't have to be, but this would be the first time I've ever tried to teach somebody.

Everybody I know sends their school age children to school and they all think I'm mad/strange for considering not doing this.

It would be great to meet people who are doing this successfully. At the moment I'm on my own with it.

hennypenny · 30-08-2008, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by OuijaMan

I've been thinking about home education since I was pregnant and seem to get more and more determined to do it every day. I do keep having moments of doubt whether I'd be able to give my son the education he deserves as I am not qualified to teach. I know you don't have to be, but this would be the first time I've ever tried to teach somebody.

Everybody I know sends their school age children to school and they all think I'm mad/strange for considering not doing this.

It would be great to meet people who are doing this successfully. At the moment I'm on my own with it.

Hi OuijaMan

The funny thing that everyone finds hard to accept at first is that we don't need to "teach". In fact I have found my kids very good at sensing when I go into teacher mode, and they resist strenuously. Kids are actually incredibly good at learning, without any input from us at all! They teach themselves to walk and talk without anyone breaking it down into easy steps for them. In the same way, they will learn all the things they need to know to get to where they want to be.

When your child is small, you help them to learn by letting them explore and test out how things work, by letting them play freely - well this can and does carry on as long as you want it to.

My son was always interested in living things, so I followed where he led, my role being to help him to follow his interests, so we went on nature walks, collected leaves for rubbings, went pond dipping, joined the young ornithologists, Sorby natural history society and nature groups, branched out into collecting rocks, making jewellery from stones we tumbled, making natural sculptures and photographing them, etc etc. We learned together, side by side, often he knew more and was able to teach me. There was no question of me being the fount of all knowledge, if there was something we didn't know, we looked it up together.

I have four grade c O'levels, my son is now in the second year of a bio-medical PhD, if I can help a child to learn, anyone can

I will pm you details of the local home ed group, in case you would like to come along, you would be very welcome