News

Some of our younger members got to start their Home ed yoga class today! 

“Each child got to introduce themselves and show a favourite dance pose or move or like stretch or something they liked about themselves in movement, Arthur liked playing guitar for example to warm up. Playing songs and shaking out all the cobwebs to loosen out our bodies. 

Then we all flew on a plane to the jungle and listened to the animals and did different moves and activities relating to the animals. 

The children really enjoyed this and look forward to their next class with Hilary.”

Some of our children are in the midst of six week ice skating lessons over the summer with Podium Ice Skating at Dundonald Ice Bowl. 

Edward and his wife Anastasiia have been fantastic coaches encouraging our beginners to take to the ice with great success! 

A large group of us went to see Zog Live at the Waterfront Belfast last week, benefiting from their great education rate. 

We weren’t quite sure what to expect from the play/musical but it definitely exceeded our expectations! 

It was a great day and it’s always so lovely to experience things like this with new and old friends. 

Our second event with Beach Schools NI took place in Holywood Sea Park recently.

The kids went on a scavenger hunt, did some channel digging and made some beautiful beach art! 

A group of us had another lovely morning with the RSPB last week at Portmore Lough. 

We scouted the grounds catching site of butterflies, grasshoppers, various bugs and beetles and lots of birds. 

Our numerous questions and queries were answered with the enthusiasm Laura always brings.

The pond was off limits for pond dipping as the newts were breeding but there is no doubt we’ll be back another time for that! 

Our group had another wonderful artist led art session with FE McWilliam gallery in Banbridge today. 

Taking inspiration from the current exhibition, Scottish Colourists, children ranging from 2-9 traced, drew and painted everyday objects onto a frame. The variation in style and imagination was so lovely to see. 

This was followed by a freestyle make something exercise. 

A few of us followed this up with a few hours in the local park. 

A fantastic day and one we are eager to repeat! 

Home ed families had a great opportunity to try out Bangor’s new inflatapark this week with Airtastic. 

The venue exceeded expectations and a really fun day was had! 

We’re hoping to repeat this in September! 

“The Guidance sets out a clear and legally accurate framework through which families can clarify expectations regarding interactions with EA officials.   

As a specialist researcher into literacy and home education, I continue to be concerned that the Guidelines place insufficient emphasis on the many ways in which learning at home may diverge from learning in school.  There is repeated emphasis given in the guidelines to the legal requirement that education be suitable to a child’s age, ability and aptitude.   Whilst this is the case, it should be highlighted that the transposition of age related bench marks from school to home education is wholly inappropriate and should not be used as either a guidance or expectation.  This may be particularly the case with regards to literacy, reading and writing where the normative framework  imposed by school has frequently been used to inadequately assess the efficacy of home education provision.  Recognition that pedagogic approaches may be different (ie from structured to autonomous) needs to be matched with recognition that learning trajectories may also be very different – for example reading and writing succeeding rather than preceding  other aspects of literacy.”

Over one hundred home educators and their children traveled to Tayto Park this week to take advantage of their superb education rate. 

Though the weather gave its best impression of all four seasons, we had a brilliant time going on all the various rides many times over. Visiting the zoo, the 5D cinema and meeting Mr Tayto himself. 

Tayto Park has something for all ages and it was a fantastic day out. 

A short discussion of the key issues relating to the current consultation has been prepared, we hope it will be useful.

2019 Consultation - Summary of Issues