Home Education Matters

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 - mendipperformingarts@gmail.comThis 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 hierarchy.@doing.education.differently 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