Deciding to home educate your child does not mean social isolation as many people suppose. In fact, the reality could not be more different. Most home educated children form healthy long-lasting friendships with other children of a much wider age range than many school educated children have access to.

Locally there is a strong network of home educating families in Milton Keynes who organise activities, outings and social get-togethers where everyone is welcome. This gives children an opportunity to meet others who are home educated and is also a chance for parents to meet and chat.

We have a newsletter which is sent out three times per year with activities and relevant information. Any home educating family can join in activities although there is never any pressure to do so – equally anyone can organise an activity and put it into the newsletter. This means that we have a wide variety of activities going on following the interests of the children who are involved. Some of the children also organise activities and offer them in the newsletter.

Many children also keep up friendships with children who are at school – this is something that may need a little more parental involvement than might happen in the school situation - to arrange suitable times etc.

Also Milton Keynes has huge opportunities for children wanting to become involved in sport, dance, drama, music, wildlife groups etc etc etc. There are lists of some of the available activities in the reference library and the leisure centres and community centres are also a good source of information. The Music Centre at Stantonbury provides an excellent service for those interested in playing an instrument or joining a choir.

Nationally, there are various home education organisations that offer a variety of camps and gatherings where children can expand their friendship group even further and parents can also make new friends with others sharing their experience. ( Many of these are listed under National Organisations )

All in all home education is a very sociable arena!