This article will cover all things Oxford home schooling. So whether you’re new to home schooling / home education, or an experienced home ed mum, this page should help answer some questions!

Listen to Oxford Home Ed Mum of 4, Jemima:

“When I started home educating, I asked all the mums in our Oxford Home Schooling WhatsApp group chat what days to home school, which subjects to get a tutor for and which curriculum to follow.

Some of the Oxford Home Schooling mums had been home educating for over a decade and came up with the same advice. Have fun with the kids, use whatever works for your family and enjoy the experience!

As nice as it is to hear that advice, I was a first-timer and am very OCD about things. I needed a fully fledged plan – a structured curriculum, regular routine; basically like an instruction manual on how to home school 😅

But, why try to create a structured system for home ed when the structured school system failed our children in the first place? One of the parents in my local How to HomeSchool community asked me that question and it changed my perspective completely. Now, after 13 years of home schooling, I’ve learnt that you have to accept to find the peace within the chaos. Yes, there’s plenty of platforms and tools out there to use, but home ed is messy and that’s why we love it. It allows us to get the best out of our children who didn’t fit into the school system, so it’s worth it ultimately!

I’ve created a Do’s and Don’ts list below to help Oxford Home Schooling parents get their bearings of home education whilst they’re still learning to ‘find the peace within the chaos.’

Hope it helps!”

All the best,
Jemima xx 

Homeschooling Do’s

1. Do discuss issues with your spouse.

   One of the most beneficial decisions I made was to involve my husband in our home schooling process. Initially, I was the one responsible for selecting the curriculum, and if something didn’t work out, the burden fell on me. Now, we evaluate the options together and jointly decide on the curriculum and other things. This collaborative approach has really reduced the pressure on me, and we can now discuss and manage our home schooling together without it over-burdening our marriage.

2. Do research the various curriculum choices.

   Avoid purchasing a curriculum simply because a friend recommends it. Invest time in researching various options to find one that best suits you and your children. Consider attending local home school events hosted in your local How to HomeSchool community, where you can ask questions and discuss the different options with veteran home educators and other mums.

3. Do schedule in some “free” days to play catch up if you get behind.

   I inevitably discovered that my rigorous schedule didn’t always work out as planned. Falling behind is typical—everyone experiences it, even mainstream schools. Don’t stress about it though; instead, incorporate regular catch-up days into your schedule. This allows you to stay on track, and on the other hand if you’re ahead, you can enjoy a well-deserved day off! This really helped my anxiety as a Oxford home ed mum!

4. Do check out home school events and activities in your area.

   I touched on this earlier, but it deserves its own emphasis. Local events are a fantastic way to connect with other Oxford home schooling families. Previously it was only possible to find these events on Facebook but now I find them all through How To HomeSchool. These events provide an excellent opportunity to speak directly with home ed experts and other parents. Similarly, co-educating is an excellent way to collaborate with other Oxford home schooling families, help your children socialise, and find support for yourself during challenging times.

5. Do create a vision statement for your homeschool, and create a list of goals that you want to achieve each year.

   When we first began, we created a vision statement, and it has been incredibly helpful. Whenever we’re unsure about a particular curriculum or activity, we refer to our vision statement. This helps us determine if it aligns with our overall goals. Based on this, we can include or exclude curriculums, activities, and other elements to ensure they contribute to achieving our homeschooling objectives. It sounds a bit extra, but it really helps so definitely try it! 

Homeschooling Don’ts

1. Don’t worry about what other people think.

   Everyone will have an opinion, and most people are happy to share theirs whether you asked for it or not 🙃 If you’ve created a vision statement, and know why you are home schooling, then that’s all you need. What other people think just doesn’t matter. It’s all about the children!

2. Don’t compare your kids to other people’s kids.

   This advice applies to all parents, whether home schooling or not: comparing your child’s development to others doesn’t help anyone. Each child develops at their own pace, and the beauty of home schooling is its flexibility to meet your child’s unique needs. Your child might excel in some areas and need extra support in others. Don’t worry about how your neighbour’s kids or cousins are doing; instead, focus on providing the best education possible for your child and supporting them throughout their journey. I can especially resonate with this one as my sons all have ADHD!

3. Don’t let your curriculum dictate your day.

   Following a planned curriculum is great, especially if it works well for your family. However, don’t feel glued to its demands. Adapt the curriculum to fit your family schedule. If it suggests five days a week but you only have three available, then use those three days. Consider combining lessons to avoid falling behind or extend the teaching over two years. Also, don’t be afraid to leave parts unfinished—many mainstream schools don’t complete an entire book in one year, and that’s perfectly fine. I can relate as a former GCSE English teacher who always had to split up the lessons for Frankenstein between the end of Year 10 and Year 11.

4. Don’t try and teach/learn absolutely everything about everything.

   I’m always on my How To HomeSchool community forum, so often come across great ideas and activities that other local Oxford home schooling families do. This can sometimes make me feel inadequate as a mum, as if I’m not doing enough with my children. It’s important to stay focused on your vision and goals for your home schooling family. While it’s fun to occasionally incorporate new activities to add excitement, don’t feel pressured to do everything every single year.