A Practical Guide to Home Education & Blended Learning
Advice, best practices, common pitfalls, sample schedules and resources to support learning at home — written for parents and carers.
Understanding Home Education & Blended Learning
Home education means taking primary responsibility for your child’s learning outside the traditional classroom. Blended learning combines in-person teaching (school, tutors) with online or home-based resources.
Both approaches offer flexibility, personalised pacing and the opportunity to focus on your child’s strengths.
Getting Started — Foundations for Success
Legal & Practical
- Check local authority guidance — in the UK you must provide a suitable education but not necessarily follow the National Curriculum.
- Decide whether you will closely follow school curriculum or take a more flexible approach.
- Keep simple records of work and progress — useful for review and transition back to school if needed.
Define Your Goals
Set clear aims: academic coverage, skill development, extra-curricular priorities — and revisit them every term. Make a note of any subjects you want to prioritise or expert help you may need (e.g. specialist tutors).
Creating a Productive Routine
A predictable routine helps children feel secure. Use structured blocks, but allow flexibility for experimentation and deeper projects.
Use short, focused learning blocks. Break tasks into 20–45 minute segments with short breaks; alternate subjects to maintain attention.
Sample daily schedule
- 09:00 — 10:00: Core subject (focus)
- 10:15 — 11:00: Practice & consolidation
- 13:00 — 14:00: Project / exploratory learning
- 15:00 — 16:00: Light review & quiz