I thought I’d share an update on our home education saga as lots has happened that means it is now going to look very different (halle-lu-jah).

The LA (local authority) has agreed to fund a tutor for 10 hours a week which means a wonderful woman comes to our house and teaches our son through play. He absolutely loves it, she completely knows what she’s doing and the responsibility for his education is no longer solely on us. I cannot describe the relief and weight off our shoulders this has brought.

I’m ashamed to admit (though I know I shouldn’t be) that I had really been struggling with home educating. Nothing I did seemed to work, our son often just wanted to stay in bed most days and the community I thought we’d have was just not there. I felt this huge pressure to be teaching our son because he is compulsory school age so really needs to be in education. But the pressure often paralysed me to the point of not knowing even where to begin. To be totally honest, I’m gutted as I really thought that home education might end up being the future for us, and I liked that thought. But at home we are just not able to meet all of our son’s needs in all areas, and that’s ok.

I rarely have good news from the LA, yet this post I have two nuggets! We reached out to a few mainstream schools for a place for our son, but they replied to say they are unable to meet need and that our son needs a specialist setting. Therefore, the LA has decided to update our son’s EHCP to state that he needs a specialist setting, without us needing to go to appeal. Those of you in the know will appreciate that this decision is huge and means there is one less fight for us!

Of course it would still be great if our son could go to an appropriate school for him where he could make friends and… not be in the house all the time 🫣. But we’re not there yet and probably won’t be this academic year. For now, I’m thrilled we have a tutor to support us and who will become another “safe” adult for our son.