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Home learning – how to organise homeschooling step by step

Homeschooling: freedom and responsibility outside the school system

An increasing number of parents are choosing to leave the traditional education system in favour of homeschooling. Learning at home is not the same as remote learning delivered by teachers through a computer screen; it is a conscious choice to pursue an alternative educational path. In this model, parents (or tutors hired by them) organise the learning process, and the child learns at their own pace, covering the national curriculum within a friendly, home environment.

Switching to homeschooling allows a child’s potential to be unlocked, fosters their genuine passions, and eliminates school-related stress and peer pressure. However, it requires excellent organisation, patience and a restructuring of the family’s daily schedule.

The greatest benefits of homeschooling:

• Time flexibility – no rigid lesson timetables, giving the freedom to travel and learn anywhere.
• Individual pace – the child can spend more time on difficult topics while breezing through the simpler ones.
• Learning through experience – swapping dry, textbook lessons for museum visits, hands-on experiments and educational trips.

How to start learning at home: formal and practical steps

Homeschooling is fully legal, but it requires fulfilling a few legal formalities as well as solid logistical preparation.

1. Formalities and enrolling in a homeschool-friendly school

For a child to learn at home, they must be formally enrolled in a specific school (state or private), which grants permission for the child to fulfil their compulsory education outside the school institution. It is well worth choosing a school friendly to home education – one that understands this model, provides free materials and educational platforms, and does not create unnecessary hurdles during end-of-year classification exams.

2. Classification exams – the sole requirement for promotion

A homeschooled student does not receive day-to-day marks, write pop quizzes or have their attendance checked. The only requirement for moving up to the next year group is passing annual classification exams in every subject covered by the national curriculum. The exam usually consists of a written part (a test) and an oral part (a discussion about a completed project or specific topics).

How to organise the learning space and time at home

The most common mistake at the start of the homeschooling journey is trying to recreate a school environment in the child’s bedroom (rigid 45-minute blocks, bells, a school desk). A home is not a school.

1. Create a flexible plan – instead of studying 7 different subjects every day, opt for block scheduling. You can spend a week deeply exploring history and geography, and then focus on maths and biology the following week.
2. Use everyday situations – maths can be taught while baking a cake (proportions, fractions) or doing the shopping, while physics and chemistry can come alive in the kitchen during home experiments.
3. Prioritise socialisation – the myth of unsocialised homeschooled children was debunked long ago. Home education students have plenty of time for extracurricular clubs, scouting, sports, or local support groups, where they meet peers with similar passions.

Tip for Parents: You do not need to be an expert in every subject. The role of a parent in homeschooling is more akin to an education manager than an all-knowing teacher. Make use of textbooks, verified educational portals, atlases, and the help of tutors during advanced stages of education (such as secondary school).