How to Homeschool In The UK For Free

The idea of homeschooling in the UK can be both exciting and daunting. You envision the joy of personalised learning and the freedom to explore your child's interests, but then the cost factor looms large. Can you really provide a quality education without breaking the bank?

The answer is a resounding yes! Thanks to incredible resources like Oak National Academy, homeschooling for free is entirely possible in the UK. This blog post will guide you through everything you need to know about using Oak National Academy, a free and comprehensive online curriculum platform, to successfully homeschool your child.

What is Oak National Academy?

Launched in 2020 by leading UK teachers and educational experts, Oak National Academy is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing high-quality, free online resources for teachers and homeschoolers. We've been using this platform since 2020 and it is now our number 1 free resource for homeschooling.

Their website, https://www.thenational.academy/, offers a complete curriculum for Key Stages 1 to 5 (ages 5-14) across various subjects like English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, and more.

Here are some key features that make Oak National Academy a perfect choice for homeschooling:

• Free and Accessible: With no subscriptions or hidden fees, Oak National Academy is completely free to access for anyone in the world.

• High-Quality Curriculum: The curriculum is developed by experienced teachers and aligns with the National Curriculum of England.

• Variety of Resources: Each subject offers a well-structured learning journey with video lessons, interactive activities, quizzes, and downloadable resources.

• Flexibility and Personalisation: You can adapt the resources to your child's learning pace and style.

Getting Started with Oak National Academy

Using Oak National Academy for homeschooling is simple and convenient. Here's what you need to do:

1. Head over to the website: Visit https://www.thenational.academy and create a free account (optional, but allows you to save favourites).

2. Choose your child's Key Stage: Select the appropriate Key Stage based on your child's age.

3. Explore Subjects: Navigate through the different subjects offered and browse the available resources.

4. Plan Your Learning Journey: Each subject page provides a clear overview of the learning journey, broken down into daily or weekly plans.

5. Engage with the Resources: Utilise the video lessons, activities, quizzes, and downloadable materials to guide your child's learning.
   
   

Homeschooling with Oak National Academy: A Step-by-Step Guide

While Oak National Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum, here's a step-by-step guide to help you structure your homeschooling experience:

1. Schedule and Planning

• Create a Schedule: Decide on a daily or weekly homeschooling schedule that works for your family and child's needs.

• Weekly Planning: Use the Oak National Academy learning journeys as a guide to plan your week's learning activities.

• Integrate Enrichment: Schedule time for additional learning activities like art, music, drama, or physical education.

• Consider Breaks and Assessments: Plan breaks throughout the day and schedule regular assessments to track your child's progress.
  
  

2. Utilise the Resources

• Video Lessons: Start each topic with a captivating video lesson from Oak National Academy.

• Interactive Activities: Follow up the video lessons with interactive activities that reinforce learning.

• Downloadable Resources: Print worksheets, quizzes, and other downloadable resources for offline use.

• Additional Resources: Don't be limited to Oak National Academy! BBC Bitesize is another good online free resource. Use free online educational games, museums' virtual tours, and library resources for further exploration.

3. Encourage and Support

• Interactive Learning: Embrace a hands-on learning approach. Ask questions, discuss concepts, and encourage exploration. We always encourage our kids to think deeper and we're not afraid to go where their thoughts are taking them before bringing it back to a topic.

• Differentiation: Adapt the activities to your child's learning style and pace. Our kids love a hands on experience, so we try to make every subject as creative as possible.

• Celebrate Achievements: Recognise your child's progress and celebrate their accomplishments. We celebrate both their small and big achievements. We use golden stars and their favourite superhero stickers in their workbooks and notebooks so they can visually see they've done well.

• Build a Learning Community: Connect with other homeschooling families online or in your local community for support and exchange of ideas. You can join our homeschooling discord community to speak with other homeschooling families.
  
  

4. Stay Flexible

• Adapt the Plan: Don't be afraid to adapt your schedule and plan as needed to suit your child's needs and interests.

• Embrace Learning Together: Homeschooling offers a unique opportunity for you to learn alongside your child.

• Seek Support: If you face any challenges, don't hesitate to seek support from online communities or educational forums.

If you would like any more information on homeschooling feel free to join our discord community.