It’s not home schooling: what every psychologist should know about elective home education

edpsy hosts: Dr Naomi Fisher, Clinical Psychologist

About the webinar

Did you know that there is no such thing as ‘home schooling’ in the UK?  The legal term is ‘home education’ and that’s how most families refer to themselves. An increasing number of children in the UK are electively home educated. In many cases these children have a very different educational experience to school. Despite this, most psychologists receive very little training on supporting home education or working with home educating families. This leaves many families unable to access support for fear of encountering judgement and prejudice. Home isn’t about reproducing school round the dining room table.

Myths abound, all of which can form barriers between home educating families and professionals.

This webinar will address commonly asked questions, including:

• legality
• safeguarding
• special educational needs
• socialisation
• the National Curriculum

You will leave understanding of:

• how home education is different to school
• why home educated children won’t necessarily present like schooled children
• the pathways families take into home education
• a better idea of how psychologists can engage with home educating families.

You will receive a certificate of attendance after the webinar

About Naomi

Dr Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist and author of Changing Our Minds: How Children Can Take Control of Their Own Learning. She has two children who have never been to conventional school and has over ten years’ experience in the home education community. She works with young people and families where children are having difficulty in school as well as with home educating families.

Naomi has written several articles discussing home education

Schools out – the arguments for self-directed education

We seem to have this difficulty imagining viable educational alternatives