Flexi-Schooling
Flexi-Schooling describes an arrangement between the parent/carer and a school, whereby children are registered at the school in the usual way but only attend for part of the week. It is a perfectly legal option but it is at the discretion of the head teacher to approve it.
The Centre for Personalised Education has a wealth of information about flexi-schooling including downloadable info sheets for parents and teachers. They make an important distinction between flexi-schooling and part-time schooling.
Part-time education is only allowed in law as a temporary solution to a specific problem (usually for medical or mental health reasons, or for integrating a pupil into a new situation).
Flexi-schooling is different as it provides children with a full-time education (even though only part of it occurs at school). Learners are registered as full-time with the school and as such are fully-funded. Schools therefore have the budgetary resource to ensure that it works effectively. The arrangement can be temporary or permanent and is requested for a wide variety of reasons, some of which are listed in our website.
For many families flexi-schooling offers the best of both worlds and is a compromise between school and home education.
Voices from the Sector
You can read our interview with a flexi-schooling parent.
Books About Flexi-Schooling
Flexischooling Guidebook: England and Wales, by Peter Humphreys, Alison Sauer & Emma Dyke
Useful Flexi-Schooling Websites
The Centre for Personalised Education – Promotes educational alternatives, including flexi-schooling.
Finding the Flex – Offers support to families and schools in co-creating flexi-schooling arrangements that better meet the needs of children. This blog by Finding the Flex founder, Sarah Sudea makes the case for flexi-schooling and shares some of the benefits for schools and families.
Flexi-Schooling Facebook Groups
Progressive Education Group – Our supportive forum discussing progressive approaches to education (including flexi-schooling) and why they are so important for the 21st century.