Why I’m Passionate About Supporting Home-Educating Families

After more than two decades in the education sector, ranging from nursery leadership to primary settings, and deep involvement in SEND support, I’ve come to truly understand what learning can and should look like for every child. That understanding has led me to passionately support home-educating families, because I now believe that, for many children, learning at home offers a more personalised, responsive, and effective path to thrive.

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My journey in education began in traditional early years settings, where I trained and eventually led a successful day nursery, mentoring staff and working closely with families. As a SENDCo and as a practitioner supporting local authority improvement projects, I consistently saw how one-size-fits-all educational approaches fails to meet the needs of many children, particularly those with additional needs, diverse learning styles, or complex emotional journeys. It became clear to me that true learning happens when children feel safe, understood, and supported at their individual pace.

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My later roles in primary settings and as a play-based support worker working directly with families reinforced this. I saw firsthand how difficult it is for many parents to navigate educational challenges, particularly when they know their child is capable but feel trapped by rigid systems. I watched children light up when their learning was adapted to suit them, and parents grow in confidence when they were equipped with the tools to do this at home.

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Through both practice and study—including my degree in Educational Studies with a focus on SEND and my current MSc in Psychology, I’ve deepened my understanding of educational psychology, communication development, and the critical importance of nurturing relationships in learning. If I had known years ago what I know now, I truly believe I would have chosen to home educate my own children. I now recognise that home education isn’t an “alternative” or fallback; for some children, it is the most consistent, empowering, and individually focused approach available.

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Working with home-educating families allows me to bring together everything I’ve learned: the creativity and warmth of early years pedagogy, the structure and developmental insight of primary teaching, and the flexible, targeted support that children with SEND need to thrive. It’s a space where I can partner with families, not just to share my knowledge, but to build confidence, offer guidance, and co-create learning environments that work for their children.

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Supporting home educators isn’t just a profession for me, it’s personal. It aligns with my belief that education should be as diverse and dynamic as the children it serves. In many ways, this work feels like the most meaningful chapter of my career, one rooted in empathy, guided by evidence, and fuelled by a deep respect for parents as educators.

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