-Answers to commonly asked questions

-Support and resources

-Legalities

Questions and answers.

Why educate your child at home?

There are many different reasons why families choose to educate their children at home. Some of these reasons are:

-          Individualised learning relevant to the child.

-          Children able to use their initiative and follow their interests more thoroughly.

-          A more suitable, supportive atmosphere.

-          Parents’ desire to enjoy their child’s best years.

-          A more appropriate social atmosphere for their children.

-          A child’s special needs are not being adequately catered for elsewhere.

What about socialisation?

Children who are educated at home have been generally found to be better, more socially well adjusted than their regularly schooled counterparts. Home education provides far greater opportunities for children to interact with other children and adults of different ages, from all walks of life.

Is it legal?

Yes. The law recognises parents have the right to educate their children at home. Home education is a recognised alternative to school-based education. You are free to adapt and adjust your educational programme and methods to your child’s individual needs. Most importantly…. You do not have to obtain permission before you commence educating your child at home.

Do I need to be a qualified teacher?

No. The majority of home educators are not qualified teachers, nor are they necessarily university graduates or highly educated professionals. Most home educators are ordinary, down-to-earth people whose main focus is to provide a family based education alternative for their children.

What do you do?

Home Education is generally quite different to the structured, formal learning environment of schools. Most home educators take advantage of the considerable freedom, and one-on-one situation to give their children a far more relaxed, self-motivated and interesting outlook to learning about life.

There are as many different ways to home educate as there are families doing it. Some families have a formal routine of academic study, while others pursue a more natural learning philosophy. You are free to pick and choose what style suits you and your child, and get the most out of individualised learning.

How do I begin?

The best thing you can do is get in touch with local home educators or support groups, and talk to them. Read a lot, talk to a lot of different people about what you want to do…. The experts in Home Education are the people who do it every day! Feel free to contact us to discuss any issues you may have.

Support

The major support network in the Perth Metropolitan area is:

The Home Based Learning Network of WA (Inc) – H.B.L.N. W.A.

P.O. Box 1356 Subiaco 6008

Phone 9399 8820

Website- www.hbln.org 

There are local support groups, networks, and resource centres all over the state. Call H.B.L.N. for a contact close to you.

What does H.B.L.N. offer?

-          Workshops and seminars

-          Help with programmes

-          Activities with children

-          Advice and information

-          An information booklet ($5.00) which outline most of the info you need to start

-          A bi-monthly newsletter, Learning Matters, which includes details of up-coming events and articles of interest.

-          Library and resources

The Home Education movement has grown enormously in the last two decades, and is networked widely throughout Australia and through international links to New Zealand, Japan, the U.K., Europe, The United States, Canada, and South Africa.     

Information supplied by The Home Based Learning Network of WA (Inc) 2000