January’s Learning Toolkit

Welcome January! This month’s collection has been designed to help families ease back into learning after the Christmas break, offering a balance of gentle structure, purposeful activities and wellbeing-focused routines to support a positive start to the new year. January can feel quieter and a little slower, so this toolkit keeps things simple, manageable and…

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Home Ed: December Learning Toolkit

Welcome December! This month’s collection has been designed to support families as we move into the winter season, offering a blend of festive creativity, meaningful learning and gentle structure to carry your child through the run-up to the Christmas break. December can be an exciting but busy time for many families, so this toolkit aims…

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Home Education in Northern Ireland: What You Really Need to Know

Home education, also known as elective home education (EHE), has become an increasingly prominent alternative to traditional schooling in Northern Ireland. Recent years have seen a significant rise in the number of families choosing to educate their children at home, reflecting a growing interest in flexibility, personalised learning and well-being. However, with that growth comes…

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Home Ed: November’s Learning Toolkit

November is a wonderful month for home educators to explore meaningful themes, history and acts of kindness through hands-on learning. As the weather turns cooler, families can enjoy creative indoor activities while reflecting on values such as remembrance, gratitude, and community spirit. This guide highlights key special days and events throughout November — from Guy…

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The School Uniform Law: A Step Forward but Still Not Good Enough

A recent BBC article (BBC News, 2025) describes a newly passed law intended to curb the spiralling cost of school uniforms for parents. The law requires schools to explain the rationale behind uniform pricing and opens the possibility of imposing a cap on costs. While these steps are commendable they are far from sufficient. Without…

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The Rise of Home Education in the UK

Home education, also known as elective home education (EHE), has experienced significant growth in the United Kingdom in recent years. This trend reflects a broader shift in educational preferences, with an increasing number of families opting to educate their children outside the traditional school system. Recent data indicates a substantial increase in the number of…

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Supporting Your Child’s Learning Without Completing the Work for Them

Parents play a pivotal role in their child’s educational journey. Striking the correct balance between providing support and fostering independence is essential. Excessive intervention may create dependence and diminish self-confidence while insufficient support may leave the child feeling discouraged or disengaged. The most effective approach is to guide children in ways that enable them to…

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Choosing the Right SEAG Test Papers: What Parents Need to Know

Preparing for the SEAG (Selective Entrance Assessment Group) test is a significant undertaking for both pupils and parents in Northern Ireland. While schools provide guidance, families often invest in additional practice papers to give their child confidence and familiarity with the format. However not all test papers are of equal quality and parents should be…

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How Much Tutoring Is Too Much? Finding the Right Balance for Your Child

When your child begins receiving tuition it’s natural to wonder how much is enough — or too much. While extra academic support can help close gaps and build confidence too many sessions can lead to stress and burnout. Finding the right balance is essential not just for academic progress but for your child’s wellbeing. Research…

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Reforming the Northern Ireland Curriculum: Why Now Is the Right Time

The recently published Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum (Crehan, 2025) has sparked timely conversations across the education sector. Led by Lucy Crehan, the review concluded that Northern Ireland’s curriculum, first introduced in 2007, no longer meets the needs of a changing society. It calls for a rebalancing of knowledge and skills, better structure…

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