Did you know that we offer homeschooling services at My Language Lab? Our tutors have years of experience helping homeschooled children reach their goals in KS3/GCSE/a level English, French, and Spanish, and the average grade increase of our KS3, GCSE and A level students is 2.0 points.

Homeschooling is an increasingly more popular choice in the UK as more parents decide to register their children for home education out of concerns about the effects of the pandemic on traditional school education. 

During lockdown, most families had to adapt to homeschooling and many found that it was actually beneficial. For many, it’s become a long-term commitment, as they noticed that their child was happier with a learning plan that suits them, their goals and needs better.

The choice to homeschool can be life-changing in many ways, although not all of them are positive — the time and planning that must be dedicated to it can be hard to face for working parents. Moreover, concerns about meeting national standards in exams like English GCSE can cause stress to all family members. Finally, many worry that the cost of learning support and social activity groups will be too challenging.

That’s why we put together this straightforward guide to homeschooling and making the best out of private tutoring, complete with a Q and A section with the most common questions answered. You will also find clear information about our homeschooling tutor team and how they can help your child progress and face English GCSE (or KS3 English, Spanish, French, and more) assessments with confidence.

The advantages of homeschooling

There are plenty of reasons why UK families love homeschooling. As with all learning styles and routines, it’s not for everyone — but neither is traditional school education! 

At My Language Lab, we believe that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to learning. Each student (adults and children alike) is unique and has unique needs and passions. When you’re able to tap into that uniqueness and really help learners connect with the subject (yes, even Maths or English GCSE) on a personal level, that’s where the magic happens!

If homeschooling is right for your child, you’ll soon start seeing positive change. This may take many forms: for example, better progress in their KS3 studies or amazing GCSE exam results, or a more positive attitude towards learning and less stress in their daily life.

What are the benefits of homeschooling your children?

Here are some of the benefits of homeschooling that can help your child thrive:

• More flexibility. Both you and your kids will be able to tailor and adapt learning and active time to your needs and commitments. 
• You’ll spend more time with your children. That doesn’t only mean preparing for their French GCSE test. Family time won’t be limited to weekends and evenings, which means that you can go to a museum, the park, or to grab a hot chocolate together whenever you want.
• Your child will receive undivided attention. No more classes of 30 pupils for one teacher.
• Better morning routines. Think about it: you can swap the morning rush and skipped breakfast for a walk in the park.
• Extracurricular activities. Many parents worry that homeschooled kids get less social time. See it instead as an opportunity for your kid to spend more time in the community, sign up for more activities and social and study groups.
• A more relaxing environment. Homeschooling proved to be extremely beneficial for children who struggle with anxiety and bullying, or who have a hard time socialising and following a rigid structure in school due to a specific health condiion.

How popular is homeschooling?

Homeschooling is on the rise. The BBC did the math — More than 40,000 pupils were formally taken out of school in the UK between September 2020 and April 2021, compared to the 23,000 homeschooling registrations recorded during the previous 2 years. That’s a national increase of 75%, with some areas like north-west England recording a 93% rise.

How to start homeschooling your kids

Starting to homeschool your children in the UK is quite straightforward, bot the school and council will be able to give you all the information you need.

Normally, if your child is enrolled in full-time study at school, you first have to notify the headteacher in writing.

You can opt for full-time or part-time homeschooling (meaning that your kids will still spend part of their time in class) but the latter isn’t always available.

The school will deregister your child and inform the local council, but you may want to check that this has been done correctly for peace of mind. The council may request to schedule an informal visit to check that you’re educating your child to their age and ability.

The homeschool national curriculum

The national curriculum to follow to homeschool your kids will vary depending on where you live. You’ll be able to find more information on the government website.

In general, the national curriculum for homeschooling is extremely flexible, there’s no need for you to follow what teachers are doing in class.

In fact, take homeschooling as an opportunity to adapt study time to your child’s individual needs and passions: what are they most interested in? What learning activities do they enjoy the most? What are the areas they need to improve?

Unlike rigid school curriculums, homeschooling programmes work around your child so there’s no need to rush. Of course, there are core subjects like English, Maths, Science, and History that your child must be confident in.

How to prepare homeschooled children for GCSE exams?

If you’re worried about preparing your child for English GCSE or helping them get stellar Maths results, start from research and planning.

Choose an exam board (QA, Edexel, etc.) and ask them for information. You will also find plenty of past and mock exam papers online so that you can understand the test.

Make a plan so that you know what to cover and when and how to revise months in advance.

Consider hiring a homeschool tutor if you want expert advice and guidance from a professional who specialises in helping homeschooled children succeed in their exams.

Remember that you’ll have to book the exams and register your children in time.

My Language Lab tutors and homeschooling

Our homeschool tutors will work with you to ensure not only academic excellence but also to increase the cultural awareness, confidence and overall wellbeing of your child.

Here’s how it works:

1. We’ll carry out a free, informal assessment of your child’s skills and progress. You’re welcome to sit in and discuss with us your child’s needs and priorities.
2. We’ll then match you with the right homeschool tutor, someone who has the right skillset to accompany your child along their learning journey and help them reach their goals.
3. You and your tutor will agree on a customised learning timetable, lesson plans and quarterly objectives.
4. After tuition starts, you’ll be kept in the loop wit our Lab Progress Reports™, wellness check-ins, and Parent’s Evenings.

Moreover, our homeschool tutoring services include:

• Comprehensive assistance in completing applications for local exam centres as well as mock exams and UCAS consultations
• Access to our Learning Dashboard, a digital, organised space where pupils can find their lesson calendar, in-built Zoom, DMs, homework submission, grades, lesson notes and material, etc

Are My Language Lab homeschool tutors right for my child?

We offer homeschooling tuition for pupils learning English, French, and Spanish. We can help homeschooled students with:

• English KS3
• French KS3
• Spanish KS3
• English GCSE
• French GCSE
• Spanish GCSE
• English A level
• French A level
• Spanish A level
• UCAS applications for homeschooled students
• SEN tuition

In 2021, 94% of our GCSE students scored 7-9 grades and 100% of our A level students got A grades. All UCAS applicants were accepted into their top-choice universities.

Book a call to find out how we can help!

FAQs

Homeschooling: Will my child suffer from the change?

Homeschooling is increasingly more popular in the UK, and many report quick and remarkable improvements after the change. Homeschooling is particularly beneficial for:

• SEN pupils
• Children who struggle in a traditional classroom environment
• Families that travel frequently 
• Pupils affected by overcrowding in schools
• Children that are being bullied in school
• Children who suffer from social and performance anxiety

Remember that if you’re not sure whether full-time homeschooling is right for your child, you can always start part-time if the school offers this.

How should I structure the day when homeschooling?

Start the day with an energising and fun activity like exercise. Since kids are more attentive in the morning, consider covering the core and ‘harder’ subjects (like GCSE English or Maths) before lunch.

Try to have a schedule but make the best of the flexibility that homeschooling gives you and enjoy breaks, walks, and fieldtrips.

Can I homeschool my child even though I don’t have teacher training?

Absolutely, there’s no formal requirement for you to have teacher training to homeschool your kids.

However, if you feel that you need help and advice:

• Check out exam and school guidelines and do your research (there’s plenty of information and material online)
• Consider hiring a tutor for expert advice and support

What if my child refuses to study at home?

It’s normal to have more arguments when spending more time together, and all kids will try and test their parent/teacher’s limits from time to time. Be patient and especially, don’t be hard on yourself. Try to:

• Give your child more responsibility by deciding the timetable and tasks together and allowing them to tick them off the list
• Use rewards if they suit your parenting style
• Get other family members involved in educational activities
• Ask your tutor to help with the most challenging tasks

How much does homeschooling cost?

It can be cheaper than you think! Between online and second hand, school material doesn’t have to be expensive, and you won’t have to worry about the school uniform and transport.

We try and make our English, French, and Spanish homeschooling tuition as affordable as possible for parents. Get in touch to get a quote.