Supporting Children with School Can’t through Home Education

If your child is struggling with School Can’t and you are exploring other options, you are in the right place. The Home Education Network (HEN) volunteers are here to support parents in meeting the unique needs of their children and to help families find community and confidence in their home education journey.

Nobody would suggest that home education alone will magically make everything better, but recent HEN surveys of School Can’t families showed overwhelmingly positive effects of home education on children with these challenges.

Survey Results: The Impact of Home Education

HEN conducted surveys to explore the experiences of families transitioning to home education. The findings clearly illustrate the following benefits:

• Improved Wellbeing: The majority of respondents reported improvements in the child’s and family’s overall situation, including mental health and family relationships (Figure 1).
• Interest and Engagement in Learning: There were marked improvements in children’s willingness and enthusiasm for learning (Figures 2-5).
• Friendships: Although differences in friendships were the most variable, only 20% of respondents reported a decline. Families noted that while the number of friendships might have decreased, the quality of new or existing friendships was often deeper and more meaningful.
• Individual Impact: Respondents shared powerful testimonials:
  • “It was like a huge weight was gone, able to relax and concentrate on healing the brain instead of starting every day with an anxiety attack.”
  • “We feel like we have our son back. We had forgotten what his personality was like.”

The survey also revealed that just over eighty percent of children with School Can’t have a diagnosed or suspected disability or additional needs. This highlights a critical gap in how traditional schools accommodate diverse learners.

You can explore the full survey results here.

Why Home Education Works for Children with School Can’t

The standard school system often struggles to support children who don’t fit its mould. Home education, on the other hand, celebrates individuality. It allows children’s strengths—an affinity with animals, encyclopedic knowledge of moths, or a passion for game design—to define them, rather than their challenges.

HEN surveys showed marked improvements in children’s interest, engagement, and educational attainment after transitioning to home education. These benefits grow over time, as children decompress, deschool, and rebuild their confidence and love for learning.

Interest and engagement are vital precursors to educational attainment. When children are interested and engaged, they become active participants in learning—thinking critically, solving problems, and taking ownership of their education (Pekrun et al., 2007; Schiefele, 1991; Wang & Eccles, 2013).

The Transition to Home Education: Challenges and Solutions

Deschooling: A Period of Adjustment

Deschooling is a critical first step for families transitioning to home education. It allows children—and parents—to decompress from the traditional schooling mindset. A common guideline is to allow one month of deschooling for every year a child has spent in school. However, children who have experienced significant trauma may need more time.

During deschooling, children often:

• Rediscover old interests and find new ones.
• Build confidence in their ability to learn.
• Recover from the chronic stress associated with School Can’t.

Parents also deschool by letting go of societal expectations about education. This includes rethinking the importance of standardized testing, rigid curricula, and age-based learning frameworks. Observing how children learn naturally—whether through play, exploration, or projects—is a key part of this process.

Interest-Based Learning

Interest-based learning naturally follows deschooling. As children’s curiosity reawakens, they engage in self-directed learning tailored to their interests and needs. This might include:

• Exploring the natural world through outdoor play and excursions.
• Developing technical skills through hobbies like game design or crafting.
• Joining community activities or online classes in subjects of interest.

Parents act as facilitators, providing resources and opportunities for learning rather than dictating a rigid schedule. For some families, this might resemble unschooling, while others may incorporate structured elements as needed.

This article showcases a variety of young people’s positive experiences of home education after School Can’t.

Supporting Families on the Journey

HEN provides extensive support for families transitioning to home education. Unlike businesses selling ‘school substitute’ products, we make no profit from our assistance. Instead, we offer a community of experienced parents, many of whom have lived through similar challenges.

Resources for Families:

• Support Groups: HEN hosts a dedicated Facebook group for families with neurodivergent children or additional needs. Join here.
• Talks and Workshops: Practical advice on deschooling, transitioning, and creating a thriving home education environment.
• Guides and Articles: Explore information on interest-based learning, home education options and how to cover learning areas for registration.

You can access additional resources here:

• If you want to know what home education in action looks like, click here.
• To get an idea of the breadth of activities that come under each Learning Area, click here
• To see the variety of ways a home ed week might look, click here
• To connect with community, find a local group – many are listed here.

And if you are struggling, and need help, reach out – support@home-ed.vic.edu.au

You can access the full survey findings here:

• School Can’t Survey
• Survey on Educational Attainment (School Can’t)

This is an abridged form of the School Can’t webinar that runs once per term. It finishes at 54 minutes, and then questions follow.

You can find the link to book the next one on the upcoming info sessions page.

Our very own Pavlina McMaster can be heard sharing her insights on this podcast by School Can’t Australia.

“In this episode of the School Can’t Experience Podcast, host Leisa Reichelt is joined by Pavlina McMaster, Coordinator at the Home Education Network to shed light on some common myths about Home Education”

Our very own Pavlina McMaster and Heidi Ryan can be heard sharing their insights on this podcast by School Can’t Australia.

“In this episode, host Leisa Reichelt is joined by Pavlina McMaster and Heidi Ryan to explore the concept of Deschooling. This is the first step in the transition to Home Education but the core concepts of Deschooling are valuable and reassuring to all School Can’t parents.

Pavlina and Heidi share their personal journeys and insights into how they successfully navigated Deschooling, addressed trauma linked to conventional schooling, and prioritized mental health.

They discuss the importance of community support and provide practical advice for parents and carers embarking on this path. Key themes include redefining education, the importance of parent/child connection, and understanding the gradual nature of this transformative process.”

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Final Thoughts

Home education offers a transformative opportunity for children with School Can’t to heal, grow, and thrive. By focusing on mental health, relationships, and engagement, families can create a learning environment that nurtures curiosity and resilience.

HEN is here to support you every step of the way—from deschooling to fostering a lifelong love of learning. Together, we can empower children to reach their full potential.