You often hear people say, “Teachers spend 4 years at university studying to become a teacher; how can you do it, you are just a mum?” Conversely, some might remark, “Oh, you home educate? It’s easier for you since you were a Headteacher!” I always smile and say, “Funny you should say that, but I don’t use any of those skills to teach my children.”

Initially, when I considered home educating, I thought my extensive experience would make it easy. However, when I first started home educating my two children, I tried to replicate a traditional school environment. The children quickly pointed out that I was their mum, not their teacher. This feedback forced me to reflect deeply to maintain their respect. This led me to discover the concept of de-schooling. We spent 5 months figuring out how we wanted to approach home education, learning together rather than me leading in a strict teacher-like manner.

What Do Teachers Learn at University?

Teachers undertake various training to become educators. They must pass professional skills tests in Maths and English and have qualifications in these subjects. However, do you need all this formal education to home educate effectively? While having knowledge in these areas is beneficial, today’s internet resources and online learning options can support your child if you’re not confident in certain subjects. It’s crucial to display confidence in your children’s learning and to acknowledge when you need to look up information together.

There are multiple routes to becoming a teacher. My path included a degree in art, followed by a PGCE, which involved placements with different age groups. My first placement focused on crowd management, and my second was more about differentiating lessons for diverse learners. While these experiences were valuable, they didn’t directly translate to home education.

A more immersive route is the 4-year BEd course, which includes extensive placements and curriculum study. This training covers educational studies, classroom management, and creating lesson plans tailored to various learning abilities. While this training is comprehensive, you don’t need to be formally trained to educate at home effectively.

The Realities of Home Education

Home educating allows you to personalise learning, focusing on your child’s interests and adapting to their needs. Unlike traditional schooling, which can be fast-paced and impersonal, home education allows for a more flexible approach. It’s about modelling a love for learning and using real-life situations as teaching opportunities, such as involving children in daily tasks like budgeting for home projects.

In schools, the pace of learning can be overwhelming, and balancing the needs of all students is challenging. Home education offers a unique advantage by allowing a slower, more personalised pace, which can lead to deeper understanding and retention of knowledge.

Can Anyone Teach?

The answer is yes. Home education is not limited to those with formal teaching qualifications. It’s about fostering a love for learning and adapting to your child’s needs. Whether it’s through a local museum workshop or a sports coach’s lesson, learning happens everywhere. We all benefit from diverse learning experiences, and sometimes the best education comes from real-life interactions and shared experiences.