Should I homeschool my child? Questions to ask yourself first
Homeschooling can be a good choice for some families, and a hard one for others. It gives you freedom over pace, content and values, but it asks a lot of your time, energy and finances. Thinking through a few honest questions first will help you decide what is right for your child and your family.
Why families consider homeschooling
Parents often look at homeschooling because they want their child to learn at their own pace, to spend more time outdoors and in creative work, to share their family's values, or because their child is unhappy or anxious at school. These are good reasons to look closely at your options.
Questions to ask yourself
1. Why do I want to homeschool?
Be clear about what you are hoping for. If your child is unhappy at school, try to understand the cause first. Sometimes a change of class, teacher or school solves the problem; sometimes homeschooling is the right answer.
2. Do I have the time?
Homeschooling usually needs one parent at home for much of the day, planning lessons, teaching and keeping records. Think about how this fits with work and with your other children.
3. Can we manage financially?
As well as curriculum materials, consider the cost of one parent earning less, tutors for subjects you cannot teach, and outings, sport and activities.
4. How will my child make friends?
Children need time with other children. Many homeschooling families join co-ops, sports clubs, youth groups and arts classes to build friendships and teamwork.
5. What about high school and matric?
Teaching the senior subjects, such as maths, science and languages, becomes more demanding in the high school years. Plan early for how your child will complete matric and what that will mean for university entrance.
6. Am I meeting the legal requirements?
Home education is legal in South Africa. Parents need to apply to register their child for home education with their provincial education department, and the rules have been updated by the BELA Act. Check your provincial department's current requirements before you begin.
If you love the idea of homeschooling, but not all of it
Many parents who are drawn to homeschooling value the same things: a child-centred pace, time in nature, creativity and the arts, close relationships and learning that means something. If you would like those things together with a school community and trained teachers, it may be worth looking at schools whose approach shares those values.
What Roseway offers families who value these things
- Learning at the child's pace. Formal learning begins in Class 1, in the seventh year, after play-based early childhood years.
- Nature and outdoor time, on a green campus in Alverstone, Outer West Durban, with gardening, walks and outdoor play.
- Art, music, drama and handwork woven into every subject for every child.
- One class teacher from Class 1 to 7, who knows each child well.
- Parents as partners, through parents' evenings, festivals and the Parents Association.
- A full path to matric. After Class 12, students spend a year preparing for the National Senior Certificate, with 16 subjects offered. Read about High School.
Questions parents ask
Yes. Parents need to apply to register their child for home education with their provincial education department. Check the current requirements, as the rules were updated by the BELA Act.
They can, but it takes planning. Many families use co-ops, clubs, sport and arts classes so their children spend regular time with others.
Yes, but plan early. The senior years are demanding to teach, and you will need to arrange how your child sits their final exams.
It can help some children, but it is worth getting advice from a psychologist first, so that the underlying anxiety is supported and your child still builds confidence with other people.
Yes, we welcome applications from homeschooling families. Applications include your child's most recent reports or records. See Apply Now on our website for the process.
Would you like to talk it through? Contact us to visit Roseway and ask your questions.