(Heather was living on the island of Grenada at the time of writing. She has five children: four girls who were aged from 7 to 14, and a boy aged 3. Her oldest daughter has always been in school, the others have been in school but some were educated at home when she described her day.)

Heather writes:

To start with, I drop two children (numbers 1 and 4) off to the abysmal local school; then I drop other two (numbers 3 and 5) off to the lovely "little school" (a cross between tutoring/school/playgroup). I return home to have breakfast with the only remaining home educated child (E, number 2), who's been watching the early morning kids' biography programme on TV (this week, the subject is famous artists).

I put on laundry. E reads, draws, and writes (the latter less frequently). We discuss what she needs to do today. We read the chosen book together, and she does some written work or maths, or whatever. I check emails, and reply to friends' emails. I troubleshoot any problems/questions from E.

Breaktime

I collect my youngest child (N) if this is a playgroup day, and we return home. E continues whichever book she's into today. I persuade N not to pull out every jigsaw and game he possesses! E goes on computer. She likes to work on Maths, English, History, and Science cd roms, also this week's mania - Sodaplay. I try to resist temptation to elbow my way into this!

I clear up latest mess N has created in the pantry/fridge area. I play with him, trying not to hog all the best Lego bits, blocks, or railway track. If it's a good day, I have enough peace and quiet to read a History or Geography book with E. Then I pick up number 3 child (J) from the "little school".

Lunchtime

I chat with teacher for too long, then we return home. E wants to make lunch. We eat the delicious lunch she generously presents. We watch "schools" programme on TV (very good!), then I have a cup of tea before driving out to collect numbers 1 and 4 from their abysmal school. (Numbers 1,3 and 5 - E, J and N - normally stay at home with the maid to play, draw, garden, swim, feed rabbits, etc unless it's music lesson day or they want to come shopping.)

I commiserate with the bad event of the day for children 1 and 4, and remind them that they are free to leave this school at any time. I accept their choice to stay till the end of term so they won't miss the class parties.

Afternoons

Three days a week, I drop off number 1, 3, or 4 child to music lessons. I run errands during music lesson time. Collect child. Drive back home

Four days a week I prepare number 2, 3 or 4 child, or any combination thereof, for dance lesson (two minutes down the road), drop said child/children off to dance lesson, stay to marvel, or return home for cup of tea or check emails, depending on mood. The other children play on the computer, draw, garden, swim, play, entertain friends, or chat on the phone.

Evenings

I collect child(ren) from dance lesson. Start dinner, await return of starving spouse, eat dinner (number 3 child prepares own version if it's not chicken and chips), field debate about whose night it is to clear up and load dishwasher. Sit with spouse for cup of coffee, watch news.

Bedtime hour for children, depending on age. We have little routine here, varying amounts of reading depending on the child, and varying readers depending on who has the most energy left.

Variations from the norm

As I write, about to collect N from playgroup, E has hugely deviated from the morning's plan because of the excitement caused by two nesting birds. She has supplied most of the material, by the look of things, but the birds' own attempts to pull out the fur on a Furby seem to have failed. Shame really; the colour coordination of this nest might have been quite amazing....

Heather, June 2000

Update - Spring 2001

After much discussion, and research, the children decided that they wanted to go to school. The oldest daughter returned to the UK first to attend boarding school, at her specific request. As there were no suitable schools for teenagers on Grenada, the family then moved back to the UK in Spring 2001, and the girls all started school.

Other approaches to home education:
Gayle - Henrietta - Jane - Kathie - Paula - Sue