Homeschooling Grants for Home Educators in the UK?

Are homeschooling grants available for home educators in the UK? The short answer is no, but there are companies that will give Home Educators discounts and there are lots of free resources available online. Due to many varied reasons Home Schooling in the UK has seen a significant rise in recent years. And while it might not be your first thought when considering Home Education it is important to think about the financial implications of taking your children out, or keeping them out, of full time schooling. In this blog post I will discuss why the government does not fund home educators in the UK and why most home educators would not want government funding even if it was available. I will also touch on some of the discounts and free resources that are available.

Image with money and a clock representing funding for education

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Government Funding for Home Schoolers

In the UK, the government does not provide grants or funding to home schooling families. When a child is enrolled in a traditional school, funding is allocated per student and goes directly to the institution. Once a child is deregistered for home schooling, this funding is no longer accessible. This means that families opting for home education must bear the costs of resources, educational materials, and any additional tutoring or extracurricular activities themselves.

Why Funding is Controversial?

Some Home Educators are hesitant to accept money from the government due to concerns over potential strings attached. Government funding often comes with regulations and oversight that could infringe on the flexibility and autonomy that are central to the home schooling philosophy. Accepting government money might lead to mandated curricula, standardised testing, or other requirements that could limit the personalised and child-centered approach many home schooling families value.

Educational Discounts and Free Resources

Many educational suppliers and institutions offer discounts for home schooling families and companies such as Eventful keep a listing of such discounts. Museums, theaters, and educational centers also often provide discounted entry for educational groups, which can include home schoolers. Online educational platforms, such as Khan Academy and BBC Bitesize, offer free resources. Companies such as AWE provide discounts for educational products to Home Educators. Let me know in the comments if there are any other discounts you have been able to avail of.

While direct government grants for home schooling in the UK are not available you can see that, for some, they may not be desirable. Home Educating Families must be proactive in seeking out discounts and educational resources. As more people choose to home educate then more opportunities for free and discounted resources arise.

HOME EDUCATION FAQS SERIES

This post is part of a series of Frequently Asked Questions concerning Home Education in the UK. If you are new to Home Education, are considering it in the future or you know people who Home Educate then reviewing the list of FAQs can be a good place to start. You may also be interested in being notified when my Home Education FAQs Ebook is published and if so please sign up below to be added to the list.