Home Education Matters

If you have been with us since the earliest days, you might remember this episode with Diane and Andy as they talk together about removing their daughter Rosa from school. Since then, Rosa has grown and flourished, so I took the opportunity of re-releasing their chat with an extra section at the start where I meet back up with Diane and hear all about what's been going on with them since we last spoke.This is an old episode and an informal chat between two parents so apologies for any sound fluctuations!This podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more of/ less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

In today's episode, Emily chats with the wonderful AuDHDacious Humans about the whirlwind that is home educating a child with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance). If your child has PDA or suspected PDA, this is a must listen episode where all three parents talk of their experiences of parenting and home educating this unique condition.Jenni Angas-Hi, we’re Martha and Jenni. We are both AuDHDers, ex-teachers, and parent carers to our AuDHD/PDA kids, who we now home educate and unschool, since leaving the education system and our jobs as teachers, over 3 years ago. After struggling to find home ed clubs that could accommodate our kids, we started our own: Make and Create Club, where we offer community, advocacy and sensory support in a flexible low-demand environment where pressure-sensitive kids can thrive, especially those who flourish when they carve their own path. Our motto is connection over conforming, always. As AuDHDacious Humans, we offer online support for discombobulated parents, carers, families, and educators looking for an alternative outside the education system to help them find their inner rebel so that all neurodivergent humans can heal and thrive away from the systems that break them. Some people call it a journey. They call it a reckoning.- Jenni's Website- @audhdacious.humans on Instagram- Jenni's Facebook page- Jenni's Facebook groupLinks mentioned: https://finchcare.com/This podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

Remember those New Year resolutions? Yeah, turns out that we don't either! But we thought we'd check in and see how we're all doing so far in 2026. It's also a great time for you to pause and take stock of your home education journey so far this year, see how it's mapping out, celebrate your stand out moments and think about what changes you might like to make for the rest of the year.We promise that it's a stimulating episode where we get a lot off our chests :)This podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

Today's podcast talks to the founder of the Home Education conference 'Learn Free' which this year is focused on supporting new home educators find their feet and more seasoned home educators deep dive into exams, learning and much more.You can find the link to book here: https://learnfree.org.uk/ The conference is a great opportunity to come together as a community and meet other home educating parents!This podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

In this episode of Home Education Matters, we continue our parenting mini-series by exploring authoritarian parenting—what it is, why it’s still common, and how it differs from permissive, neglectful, and connective approaches. We talk about the hallmarks of authoritarian parenting, including strict rules, punishments, and expectations of obedience, and how many of us were raised with elements of this style.We also discuss why behaviour is communication, how punishments and rewards can sometimes become tools of control, and why many parents experience occasional “authoritarian moments” when overwhelmed. Most importantly, we explore how reflection and repair can help us move toward a more connective, balanced approach to parenting.Eleanor is again joined by her co-host, Charlotte, a child psychologist, for another engaging, frank and thought provoking chat about parenting and pressures on parents.This podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

In this week's episode of Home Education Matters, Emily is joined by Will Savage, a music educator and founder of Music with Will. Will shares his own home education journey and how music featured in that, and how he now supports other home educated children to also access music education. Will shares simple and practical tips for home educating parents to easily incorporate music education into their daily lives, whilst also highlighting easily accessible resources that create a fun and engaging environment for children to learn and develop through music.Will SavageWill Savage is a musician and educator with nearly 20 years’ experience teaching music and piano. Home-educated himself, he knows firsthand how music can feel like a “black box” to children without formal training. Will’s approach makes music accessible, playful, and understandable, helping children explore, create, and internalize musical concepts through listening, singing, and hands-on activities. He also runs a small online program for home-educated children aged 7–12, providing flexible, interactive lessons that inspire curiosity and confidence in music.Will's WebsiteWill's Facebook pageWill on YouTube@willsavagemusic on InstagramResources mentioned:clara.imslp.orgChrome Music LabAbletonThis podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

Unschooling can feel like a wild and scary place for the uninitiated! And so today's podcast is looking at gentle and easy ways to incorporate unschooling and its principles into your home education journey, in way that feel manageable and empowering for you and your child.I am joined by the wonderful Heidi Steel and she'll be giving us five ways we can dip our toes into this liberating and rewarding approach to a child's learning.With: Heidi Steel- Heidi Steel is the founder of liveplaylearn.org and the Unschooling Village Hub, and author of the book School Isn’t for Everyone and What You Can Do Instead: A Practical and Neuro-Affirming Guide to Unschooling. She has over 14 years of hands-on experience as an unschooling parent of four always unschooled children. Heidi shares a practical, down-to-earth approach that builds connection, trust, and a lifelong love of learning. Throughout the resources and community that she hosts for unschooling families, you can find support to step away from traditional education systems, and guidance and reassurance to create learning environments that truly work for their families. Heidi’s work is rooted in the belief that children learn best when they are trusted and given the space to follow their natural curiosity.- Heidi's Website - @liveplaylearn1 on Instagram- Heidi's Facebook pageand Heidi's book can be found hereThis podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

Today is the first in our parenting mini series and we are starting with exploring Permissive Parenting. This approach to parenting combines many wonderful elements such as child autonomy and responsive parenting. It can, however, throw up challenges both for you as the parent and for your child.I am joined by my co-host Charlotte Webb, a Clinical Child Psychologist, to take a fun and no holds barred look at permissive parenting.This podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

As a home educator, it is sometimes thought that performing arts subjects are out of reach. But in today's episode we explore how home educated children can access LAMDA qualifications from home. We are joined by Rosie Skinner, Principal of the Mendip Performing Arts Academy, to talk all things drama, performing arts and in particular the prestigious LAMDA qualifications. Join us as we discuss the real life skills that can be built through studying the performing arts and how the LAMDA qualifications support your child's growth whilst also giving them the opportunity to add to their academic portfolio.Rosie Skinner TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vocal.coach.rosieRosie's Facebook pageRosie's Website TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@vocal.coach.rosieEmail - [email protected] podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

Today we are joined by Jenn Hodge to discuss the upcoming Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which is currently going through Parliament.We talk about the history of legislation in the home education community, the details of the bill, how it will impact prospective home educators and existing home educating families, as well as its effect on all members of the community but especially children with school trauma or special educational needs. And we also talk about what we can do to try to halt its inexorable progress.In Jan 2020, following her work in advocacy, community work and facilitating youth provision, Jenn Hodge founded an education centre in Somerset, now supporting a wide range of young people, many of whom are neurodivergent. In 2025, she was named one of the UK’s Top 100 Inspiring Female Entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain. Today, Jenn is a writer, CEO, and passionate advocate for doing education differently, dreaming of a system that is inclusive, interest-led, and free from exam-driven [email protected] on InstagramJenn's Facebook pageJenn's WebsiteSome useful sites for information on the Bill:https://www.facebook.com/stopthecwsbillhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/homeeducationactiongroup/https://edyourself.org/childrens-wellbeing-schools-bill/https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/proposed-changes-to-home-education-law-without-the-legal-jargon/This podcast is a labour of love, and time and energy and commitment and lots of coffee! It really helps us if you can follow us on our social media channels and comment to let us know if you enjoyed the episode, what you'd like to see more / less of and generally come and say hi!Instagram - TikTok - FB page - Our Private FB group

In today's podcast, we chat with Kim who successfully hustled the education system in the UK and now her 14 year old daughter is happily at university. Sometimes it feels as if the whole system is pushing against us. Kim shows us just how we can push back and get our child's needs met, and more!Check out Kim's TikTok to follow her and her daughter's journey.

Today's episode is a deep dive into the Astronomy GCSE with the wonderful Physics with Keith, and as you'd expect, we also take some lovely meanders through Physics and also how Astronomy can help you in A levels as well as university.If your child is interested in a gloriously geeky and wonderfully unusual GCSE, then check out our podcast and find out more about Astronomy GCSE for home educators.With Keith Dalby - A qualified and experienced physics teacher and head of department, Isaac Science ambassador, and AQA examiner. Delivering online tutoring since 2020.- Keith's Website- @physicswithkeith on Instagram- Keith's Facebook group- Keith's Facebook page- Keith on YouTube- @physicskeith on X

Today we're chatting with Maddy Alexander-Grout, who shares her journey from spending addiction to financial literacy. We'll be finding out some great practical tips for teaching our home ed children about money, the impact of ADHD on financial decisions and the importance of conscious spending for children and for us as parents.Along the way, we even find time to challenge a few societal myths about wealth and success. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments!With Maddy Alexander Grout- Maddy's Website - @maddytalksmoney on Instagram- Maddy's Facebook page - Maddy on YouTube

January is a time for reflection and planning so we thought we'd do a podcast where we talk about our home education journeys in 2025, what we learnt, what we want to take more of into 2026, what we want a bit less of in the future and what habits we'd like to cultivate as part of our home ed world.Grab a pen and paper and do some reflection and planning with us!

In today's podcast, I am joined by Juliet English to discuss the two main routes into home education and the changing times within the home education community.Whether you actively chose home education, or felt that you were forced towards it by a difficult school experience, this podcast is a discussion on the differences and dynamics between both routes and how, ultimately, we become one united community.Find Juliet here on Streams and here for the Home Education conference.

Our Christmas gift (surely better than socks and shower gel!) is a little compilation of our top home education tips. We range from resources to wellbeing and they're applicable to all ages and stages.These tips were first published on our TikTok channel ... I know, so modern! Come and check us out on TikTok and our other social media channels ...@homeeducationmatters on Instagram- Eleanor's Facebook group - Eleanor's Facebook page

Yes, we're reviving our Christmas Quiz tradition! Settle down, snuggle up with the family and get ready for some nice easy questions, some fiendishly tricky questions and to have your general knowledge and home education expertise put to the test ...

Did someone say fun quiz recorded at 8am? No-one? :)Join us as we dive into our personal home education journeys. From fun anecdotes to heartfelt insights, discover how we each navigate the ups and downs of home educating. It's fun, it's candid, it's even sizably controversial ... Enjoy this podcast which gets behind the unique personalities behind the podcast!

STEM subjects are notoriously hard when home educating but they are also rightly popular with our innovated home ed children. So today I am joined by Caroline and Farah to discuss how we can empower our home educated children to study STEM subjects and move into university courses and beyond.With Farah Khan and Caroline Mukisa, expert guests spanning a wide range of education systems, including UK and international schools, university admissions, as well as home education. Join their STEM WhatsApp chat here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DTsV2j9axnxIJNw5ARcMDo?mode=wwcLinks referenced in this episode:threeblueonebrownbisonmathsroyalinstitutionisaacsciencedrhannahfrymathsforgirls

Geography is a lovely Goldilocks subject for home educators to study ... not too hard, not too easy, not too maths-y and not too essay-y! And to guide us through Geography at GCSE level is Jake from Humanatees, letting us know what to expect on each paper, from the exam more broadly, the different specifications, the fieldwork and beyond. With Jake Richards - Jake has been the face behind Humanatees Tutoring since 2017. He is a qualified teacher who taught in secondary schools for ten years before becoming a full-time tutor for home educated students in all of the humanities, including Geography. - Jake's Website - Jake's Facebook page

For today's bonus mid week episode, Emily chats with fellow home educator Kate whose family has been exploring the benefits and challenges of taking responsibility for a group of street kittens as part of their home education journey!Support the kittens here: https://gofund.me/9a99e1208and for raw food with a referral code: https://www.bellaandduke.com/lp/referrals/?ref_code=sapq4d4Follow Kate and her daughters' journey here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thephoenixgreen/p/our-journey-to-a-barefoot-education

Debunking Home Education Myths ...So many people would like to home educate but feel that it is not accessible for them for various reasons. In this series, we will debunk some of these myths and counter some of the common reasons people feel they can't home educate. Starting with ... "I'm not clever enough to home educate" - Emily, Charlotte and I discuss this common idea and why it's rarely parental education, cleverness, qualifications or knowledge that lead to a successful home education journey.

Buckle up because I'm joined by Hannah from Instagram's hugely popular ThrivingWithHannah to discuss all the many excuses people give for why they can't home educate.We pick through when an excuse is a valid reason and when it's just "lazy parenting" 😜 And trust me, we express opinions!Come and have a listen and let us know what you think in the comments below ...Find Hannah here:thrivingwithhannahhannahhomeeducates

Are you solid on your legal rights as a home educator? It's vital that we arm ourselves with all the information we can to protect our rights. In this episode, I am joined by Wendy Charles Warner from Education Otherwise who guides us through both our rights and also the statistics behind court proceedings. She gives some great advice for every step of the way, from that first contact with the LA through to appearing in court. https://www.educationotherwise.org/

In today's podcast, I chat to Nicola, a prospective home educator and long time listener to the show. We talk about her fears and worries around home education and I do my best to advise, reassure and support her with these questions. This is a great episode for anyone who is sitting on the fence, a bit unsure, but instinctively wanting to take the plunged into home education!

Welcome to our deschooling episode! I'm joined by Helen Royston to talk about:why it's important to deschoolwhat it looks likehow long it lasts (spoiler: longer than you think!)how to do itwhat to avoidDid you go through a deschooling process? How did you find it? Let us know in the comments ...Links referenced in this episode:picturebookexplorers.co.ukinstagram.com/HomeEducationMatters

In this episode, we talk to Emily who is a home educating mum of three with autism and adhd, whose children are all also neurodivergent. What emerges is a safeguarding issue - but no, not the usual rhetoric around home education and registers. Here school was the safeguarding issue for Emily's child and home education is the place of care and freedom.With Emily Fae - Emily is a home educating mum of 3. As a late diagnosed neurodivergent woman parenting and educating her three neurodivergent daughters, she is passionate about sharing her experiences and supporting other mums in similar situations, helping empower them in making the right choices for both them and their children. - @Calmspace_calmmind on Instagram

Today's podcast looks at a common parenting struggle through the eyes of home education. There are always times when we find ourselves in the eye of a storm, navigating overwhelm, tantrums, fury and meltdowns in our home (and that's just us!). Home education can magnify these moments as you spend so much more time together but it also offers great scope to work through these moments successfully together without external interference or triggers.Charlotte and I suggest five practical strategies to help you as a family before, during and after a period of overwhelm, and of course do so within the context of home education. With Charlotte Webb - Hello! I am Charlotte Webb, I am a therapist and psychological coach, I specialise in connective parenting, neurodivergence and home education advice and support for children and adults in my local community. I am a home ed mum to 4 children and I run a home education learning centre. - @charlotteswebboflife on Instagram - Charlotte 's Facebook page - Charlotte 's Facebook group

Home educating can be a lonely journey and this is often even more so when you are doing it as a single parent. And yes, there are positives (and we get to these, don't worry!) but Tamsin and I are also here to talk about the difficult times and particular challenges to home educating as the lone parent in the house. [Enjoying the podcast? Leave a comment and say hi or take the time to rate us or share us with friends. It means a lot to us!]

Today I am joined again by Michele Holmes from the Home School Directive and we talk about how to add dual enrollment credits onto your High School Diploma transcript to help with university entrance to the UK or worldwide universities.This is an amazing route for students who don't want to take A levels, the SAT exam or the AP (Advanced Placement) exams. Instead, your home ed child can study courses from the first year of university and use these, alongside the High School Diploma, to gain access to most (if not all!) UK universities.If you are interested in signing up for the High School Diploma route (as I did with my daughter) then I've wangled you a lovely discount with Michele's company using this discount code just for listeners to this podcast! Add this code into the discount section when checking out for a great $75 discount off the price of signing up with Michele: HOMEED75 at https://homeschooldirective.com/program?orid=53&opid=1With Michele Holmes from Home School Directive - https://www.facebook.com/homeschooldirective/ - https://www.instagram.com/homeschooldirective/?hl=en

Have you been wondering how Ash and Ismael have been getting on since we last spoke to them? Me too!Today we catch up with Ash and hear about Ismael's return to school last Autumn and the journey they've been on since. And we'll be resuming our monthly check ins with Ash so stay tuned next month for our latest installment ...

And we're back! With a new plan, new hosts, old hosts and lots of great episodes coming up ...

And it's official. Today you'll meet your new Home Education Matters host and hear about her plans for the future of the podcast.Enjoy the episode and thank you all so much for listening for the past two years!

It's my final episode as your host (but not of the show!) and I recorded this interview with Karem way back in Spring but, as I was recording it, knew I wanted to sign out with this podcast, so have held it back all this time. It was a tour de force of patience!Karem and I discuss the importance of raising politically and philosophically engaged children and how home education is the perfect environment for these subjects. We talk about the who, what, how, why and when of incorporating Politics and Philosophy, and then more widely about home education as an act of love, freedom and defiance. 

I am joined by Emmy from Arctic Terns as we discover the opportunities around the world for home educated children. From six weeks in Bansko for the whole family to a month of teen independence in the Netherlands, Emmy guides us through worldschooling hubs and what they can offer your home educating family.

Join Caroline and I as we discuss the benefits, pitfalls and procedure for applying to a non UK university. We roam around the globe discussing university culture, options for time abroad and applications procedure, as well as the all important topic of financing!

What a fascinating podcast we have today as I am joined by Lisa and Sam, visual stress assessors, to guide us through this much neglected condition. We look at what it is, what the symptoms might be and how to support your child (or yourself!) if you think they might have visual stress. Enjoy the show and do share it around with anyone who you think might be experiencing this condition!https://www.facebook.com/share/g/pL8KqHrs9UkjM2ep/?mibextid=K35XfP https://www.visualstress.net/https://www.facebook.com/ColourCalm.VS/

In today's podcast I chat with some parents whose children have moved on from home education and away from home. Home education can be a particularly immersive way of parenting (for good and for bad!) and it can be a difficult adjustment to move from that intensity and connection to a quieter home when the children leave for college or work. In this podcast we discover the joys, losses and surprises of an empty nest and how we have made that transition.

It was great to have Cheryl on to talk us through the process of giving information when requested to the local authority, what most of us think of as 'writing the annual report' (which is a bit of a misnomer as will be revealed in the podcast!).Cheryl guides us through:When and whether to respondThe ways to respondWhat to includeWhat not to put inFrequencyIssuesCommunicationAnd so much more!Educational Freedom is a great website for getting some really solid information and support: https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/

Join Amy and I as we make our way through the home education rules and regulations, as they shift and change, in Wales.We talk about:DeregistrationReports ExamsAdditional Learning NeedsChanging government legislation / statutory guidanceIt's a complicated and very quickly changing environment but involves changes that everyone in home education needs to be aware of, whether you're in Wales or not. A register brought into one area of the UK can very often have ripples that spread widely.Check it out and do share around with any home ed bods.

Join Emma, busy home educating mum of 7, to discuss home educating in Scotland and how it differs from other parts of the UK.Together, Emma and I discuss deregistration, LA checks and reports, as well as exams and home educating children with additional needs. If you enjoy the show, do like and subscribe or leave a comment, wherever you are listening to us and share it around with any of your home ed friends.I definitely don't do this podcast for the money ;) But you're always very welcome to support what I do by buying me a virtual cup of coffee! buymeacoffee.com/HomeEducation  

Today's podcast looks at making that transition from home education to university and I am joined by Ossie, a recent graduate from Cambridge who pit stops with us before going on to do his Masters. We talk about making that move from autonomous home education to the more structured university life, as well as talking about workloads, perception of home education and, of course, 'socialisation'!This podcast is about giving something back to the home ed community. But you're always very welcome to support what I do by buying me a virtual cup of coffee! buymeacoffee.com/HomeEducation

Fancy a maths GCSE that you can split into parts and retake at your leisure? Yeah, me too! In this podcast, we talk about the new modular maths exam at GCSE level and discuss its benefits and disadvantages, as well as what to expect and how to book onto it.Next week's podcast is a look at the university experience from a home educated person's perspective so stay tuned for that.Don't forget that this podcast is brought to you with love and lots of cups of tea! If you'd like to keep me supplied in Rooibos while I chat to our guests, you can now buy me a cup at: buymeacoffee.com/HomeEducation

For our last episode in our mini series "School's Out", I talk to Vicky about her daughter's experience of bullying at school. It's a shocking but ultimately hopeful episode as we learn about their journey from school trauma to the amazing restorative power of home education.Next week, we'll be back to our usual mixture of episodes starting with a podcast on the new modular maths exam. Intrigued? Stay tuned for next Sunday's show!

Today's episode is a personal story from Martine who shares her experience of witnessing her son's traumatic school journey and then embarking on the healing journey of home education.Martine's story is both shocking and emotional, and yet from it her and her family have repaired themselves and come out the other side stronger and wiser.* This episode contains some distressing descriptions and therefore if you or your child have experienced school based trauma, you may find this a difficult episode *

Today I am joined by Dr Robyn Koslowitz, expert in trauma and author of upcoming book on Post Traumatic Parenting. In this insightful episode we will talk about how school can cause trauma and the ways in which home education can uniquely heal those wounds. Robyn also guides us in how to differentiate trauma from the usual childhood ups and downs, and gives her advice on healing those trauma wounds in our children. Often, the act of removing your child from the mainstream education system and having witnessed their distress can have an extremely traumatic effect on us as parents and so Robyn has some great advice for how we can go about healing our own parental trauma.It was great to have Robyn on the show and next week, as part of our 'School's Out' series, we will have an interview with a parent for whom school was hugely traumatic both for them and their child, so watch out for next week's episode.And for those interested in the episode mentioned on the podcast on supporting your anxious child and how the school system is uniquely manufactured to create anxiety, check out our podcast with Naomi Fisher - episode 37.