Home EdVenturers

01/11/2024

Home EdVenturers got our thanks to Clive Gwilt this week, with a spooky historic tour of

One of the most haunted towns in England, historian and author Clive, shared his knowledge of the towns buildings, past residents and spooky goings on!
Our families took Clives brand new book home afterwards to 'dig deeper' and maybe asked to do it again next

Huge thanks to all the local traders who gave our kids a warm welcome, opening areas the public never see, and adding some light flickering spookyness to the experience!
We undoubtedly learned a lot of local history, but our adults learned about a lot business they'd not been into, and will definitely be going back!


Thanks to Nick Bevon at Bassa Villa Bridgnorth , staff at The Greenhouse Bridgnorth , to owner Maria Allen at
Bishop Percy's House to all who gave a warm welcome at St Leonards Church Bridgnorth particularly Penelope Taylor and Chris Aked to St Mary's Church, Bridgnorth to Craig Queeney and Andrew of the Crown Bridgnorth and to Beckie Ray of Urban Angel Bridgnorth

31/10/2024

Whatever your reason for eating lots of sweet treats today, Home EdVenturers wishes everyone a warm and happy day, full of great fun with family and friends.

25/10/2024

Great excitement today for Home EdVenturers as our French students received letters from their new French penpals.
Receiving some beautifully written letters from French children, written in French they talked about their hometown, interests and family, for our children to translate.
These letters included photographs, drawings, games and much excitement!

Our last lesson in this block will help our children write a full reply, practicing their written French, with a real purpose ❤️

25/10/2024

Thanks to Becky of Play Lane Bakes for our our latest teen cooking class.

Home EdVenturers (Midlands) kids made delicious millionaire shortbread, creating a shortbread base, sticky caramel middle layer, and smooth chocolate top layer.

So tasty they didn't last long!


The Great British Bake Off

23/10/2024

A wonderful creative learning opportunity, do sign up if you can.

Home EdVenturers (Midlands) families highly recommend ❤️

18/10/2024

Thank you to Heather of Wellington Community Art Gallery for our focused art class at Bridgnorth Library and Visitor Information Point today, marking

This class included the music, food and of course art of those who made the voyage from Jamaica to London in 1948.

We were blessed to have a grandparent of one family, that came to the UK on that first ever ship, and we were able to see his ticket and landing pass.

18/10/2024

Thanks to Tony at Anthony's Of Wellington Farm Shop & Coffee for our dissection class this week.
We focused on digestion.
The first task was for the children to draw and label the digestive system in as much detail as they were able.
Tony was very impressed with the children’s diagrams.
He then added some detail about the different mechanisms used throughout the digestive system.
Tony demonstrated the length of the small intestine (22ft 😮) using a piece of string laid out on the floor. A visual teaching style that really had impact on the children.
Then we moved onto looking at an ox tongue and the small intestine, then a full pluck, including lungs, heart and diaphragm.
The children were able to get hands on with all of the specimens, including inflating the lungs with a straw. Throughout the session, there was the opportunity to ask questions and Tony was fabulous at answering them.

A fantastic opportunity for our children to learn from someone who handles these animal parts every day and truly understand the whole animal.

Our parents were able to enjoy coffee, and delicious cakes from Ami's Bakehouse in the farmhouse cafe.

Thank you for having us all we appreciate the time and energy given.

17/10/2024

Fantastic experience for Home EdVenturers tonight watching The Addams Family Musical at Theatre On The Steps

A very last minute booking we have to thank Jim of the team for support on organising our tickets just a few days before.

So many local families had never been to this lovely loyal theatre, and will definitely be coming back. It was a great success all round.

Our started early with proper laugh out loud performances, audience cheering and of course finger clicking to the iconic theme


Thanks to everyone who dealt with our families tonight, from the warm welcome, green room staff, bar staff and actors, we all had a great night and can fully recommend this performance, but be quick! There's only a few nights left.

Bridgnorth News and Views Shropshire What's On Bridgnorth Kids

10/10/2024

Today marks

The mental health of our young people is the number 1 reason for a rise in home education.

Our parents know without a good mental health foundation our children cannot achieve their potential.

Huge numbers of teaching professionals choose to home educate their own children because they know, the school system is failing them.
Created to protect children from manual work far too young, and give them more opportunity by teaching the three R's, the modern intensive testing system is not helping our children today.

Child Mental Health.
1 in 6 children aged five to 16 were identified as having a mental health problem in 2020, but once identified, there's very little support.
NHS data shows the highest ever number of referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) only 1/3 are seen within the recommended timeframe and (76%) of parents said that their child's mental health deteriorated while waiting. Those who need it most are getting no help.
Charities and volunteer groups try, for 30% of counselling sessions provided by Childline (NSPCC) the primary concern was mental / emotional health, but they can't do it all.

You would not expect someone with a broken leg to run a race.
Heal the broken leg, then they'll be able to run every race.

The majority of families removing their children from school to home educate, do so to stop any further mental health damage, and help them heal.
They see their kids thrive in a supportive, positive home and community environment, an environment that can't feed their interest and abilities, while giving many more opportunities, and friendships.

Until mental health is taken much more seriously, our children will continue to suffer and home education rates will continue to rise.

All talk of limitations on home education needs to address the underlying reasons. Mental health needs to be a priority, before all else.

For more information see links below;

Not Fine In School - Public Page - School Attendance Difficulties

Education Otherwise

Education Other Than at School

www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/suicide-rates-record-high-amongst-15-19-year-olds

www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news/campaigners-warn-of-alarming-rise-in-teenage-suicides/

www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/mental-health-statistics/

09/10/2024

"Home education and higher education have much in common. At the heart of the educational philosophies that drive many home educators is the desire to instil a lifelong love of learning.

"... they have a deep, self-propelled passion for learning, and their out-of-the-box thinking could bring so much to higher education. If we don’t engage more effectively with the home ed community, we risk missing out on some fantastic potential future students."

https://wonkhe.com/blogs/rising-levels-of-home-education-should-get-the-sector-asking-questions-about-access/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFTsRNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXI5IaQ6ZwvtS4QG9mwKCLbzZCmo4Ox1SpG6l90FLVBkGw47eF-p-nsbwQ_aem_0RnNjHX-WhVY0crxJLb6TA

Home education is growing in popularity. Laura Duncan explains why this matters for universities, and why there’s more to be done

08/10/2024

A very special class for Home EdVenturers (Midlands) thanks to Linda Allbutt, founder of the charity Period Power
Linda started by talking to our girls and their mums about period poverty, and how it impacts many women.
Creating an open and safe space, she spoke on how women develop from puberty to menopause, and even our most shy girls felt able to join in the chat.

We learned about different period products available, the environmental impact of plastics in some products, and each young woman had a goodybag of information and products to take home.

While this class taught a lot about periods and the biology of being female, feedback was very much about how Linda created a safe space, where our girls could talk comfortably without fear of judgment, something every young person should experience.

We have donated via www.justgiving.com/periodpower in thanks for the time and care Linda showed our girls and would encourage anyone who can spare a few ££ to do the same.
This event was a year in planning because no other charity would talk to home-educated girls on this topic.

Every girl should have this experience. Please support this wonderful charity, so all girls can benefit.


JustGiving

04/10/2024

Exciting times for Home EdVenturers (Midlands) today at Bridgnorth Library and Visitor Information Point as our Spanish learners completed their current block of classes, and each wrote a postcard to their new penpals.

Thanks to the wonderful Faye our Bridgnorth Languages Tutor and the kids who worked so hard, from our youngest to our oldest, practicing writing and spelling in a foreign language is no easy tasks, but one Faye always makes enjoyable.

We can't wait to see what letters the Spanish children write back!

04/10/2024

Home EdVenturers (Midlands) were making a movie today, no spoilers till it's finished but, we wanted to extend a big thanks to the lovely members of the public who vacated this seat to allow us to film.

Extra points if you can recognize where we were! (The tagged groups may be a clue ☺️)


Bridgnorth Library and Visitor Information Point Bridgnorth Twinning Association Bridgnorth chat, news, rants and idle speculation Bridgnorth News and Views
Bridgnorth Languages Tutor Bridgnorth Kids

04/10/2024

Please be aware
Home EdVenturers (Midlands) and
Home EdVenturers (National Events UK) are the only groups the volunteer parents and organizers here run under the 'Home Edventures' name.
Our event groups have been running for many years but within the last year others have appeared, giving the very definite impression they are affiliated to this group, they're not

We receive many messages asking for home Ed advice and always direct people to the best, dedicated advice groups, for their individual circumstances.

Home EdVenturers are connected to some of the most knowledgeable, experienced and supportive people in home education, and will happily signpost people to the right advice for the age, location, ability and needs of each child.

If you have been invited to another group, or perhaps it was suggested by Facebook, please be aware there is no advice group we have created, using the 'Home EdVenturers' branding.

Before taking advice from anyone always check their credentials.

01/10/2024

So many home educating families have to deal with autism, and its many linked conditions, because schools can't
This is one of many local support groups, in a venue that truly supports the whole community.
If you're affected, do pop along for a chat.


Autism West Midlands Bridgnorth Library and Visitor Information Point
Bridgnorth chat, news, rants and idle speculation

We are so pleased to be announcing this! Starts on Monday 7th October at Bridgnorth Library.
You can email [email protected], if you would like to book on or you can drop in anytime without a booking between 3:30pm and 5:00pm.

28/09/2024

Thanks to Becky of Play Lane Bakes for our our latest teen cooking class.

Home EdVenturers (Midlands) practiced our skills of pastry making learned in previous classes, this month it was shortcrust pastry, and making sure it isn’t overworked. We had to get the thickness right for filling our pie case to avoid leaks or soggy bottoms!
Delicious veg pies were the tasty result of everyones hard work.

In addition our older kids always have fun socially, forming friendships while cooking and creating


The Great British Bake Off

26/09/2024

Home EdVenturers are loving our new French and Spanish classes with our favorite Bridgnorth Languages Tutor
As our older French group prepare a video, in French, all about our older Spanish learners practice written work in preparation for becoming penpals to Spanish children.

Juniors from age 4+ are also loving the fun way our teacher Faye has been teaching them, and parents notice how quickly they're picking up words and phrases. If we do have any Bridgnorth juniors who'd like to join French or art classes, with Home EdVenturers (Midlands) do get in touch, we have a few spaces on these classes.


Bridgnorth Kids Bridgnorth Library and Visitor Information Point

26/09/2024

Home EdVenturers enjoyed another classroom experience at the heart of Harry Potter with our recent visit to Harry Potter Studios London

Learning how to get an idea from 'script to screen' our children became producers, directors and all trades needed to bring a script to life. Always a great education experience this was a special treat for our

After our class we all entered the studio tour to see behind the scenes.
Themed for we watched enactors bring characters to life, got hands on with latex learning how goblins were created, flew on broomsticks, climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express and so much more!

26/09/2024

Home EdVenturers (Midlands) took two groups to Daniels Mill to learn about the local history and engineering.

As well as the history of the mill, we covered a wide range of subjects from
Anglo saxon language to torque and engineering, via dangerous plants and exploding bakeries!

Thanks to Trevor for arranging our visit.
Gratitude to Paddy for sharing enthusiasm and knowledge, pitched perfectly for our group.
Special thanks also to Peter, the mill has been in his family for over 500 years and we very much appreciate your willingness to share it's history with our children.

The sun came out for our visit and learning in such a special place, and in the shadow of the Severn Valley Railway really makes the engineering and history come alive.


Daniels Mill, Shropshire

26/09/2024

Since our summer break we've been too busy Home Edventuring to update here, finally got a minute with a cuppa, so watch out for many many posts of what Home EdVenturers (Midlands) and Home EdVenturers (National Events UK) have been up to the last few weeks.

As more families join we're also receiving an increase in emails and messenger requests, for information on home education generally, and local events specifically.

Anyone currently home educating is welcome to join our event groups, or get in touch for further information.

The HomeEd community is very active and welcoming.

24/09/2024

Home EdVenturers marked #2024 during our art classes with Wellington Community Art Gallery at Bridgnorth Library and Visitor Information Point this month.

Our junior group heard stories from British illustrator Anthony Browne, bringing along their own toy gorillas as inspirations, to create their own themed masterpiece.
Our older group learned about habitat destruction and poaching issues gorillas experience. We heard that we share 98% of our DNA with Gorillas and learned what we can do to protect them, as well as technique on how to draw these beautiful creatures.
Always say much more than at these classes are extremely popular and we're all looking forward to our next class where we'll learn about
Thanks also to our contact Wendy at WWF who providing some resources for this event.

09/09/2024

Great fun for Home EdVenturers today as our families enjoyed a wonderful circus performance, thanks to Circus Starr at the Swan Theatre Worcester

Feedback from our families was appreciative, and we'd like to thank everyone involved in providing these opportunities

"My daughter thought it was fantastic 🎪'

"What a treat ! Thank you 🤩"

"We loved it! Thank you"

Personal thanks to Jo and Demi at for ensuring our SEN kids can access this opportunity, organizing wheelchair space and always being so helpful to arrange tickets.

08/09/2024

Wonderful to be back with Wellington Community Art Gallery as we start a new term this week. These classes are so much more than learning about an artist and emulating their work, as we learned about Edvard Munch and his mental health struggles, we saw the emotions he exhibits in his work. Thinking about our own expression and emotions this class included mindfulness activities and lots of opportunities for creative expression.
Heather and Mary do truly teach the whole child and welcome everyone to these classes.

As many others head back to school this week, and may be finding their own struggles with that process, Home EdVenturers welcome all local home-educating families to attend our events, and can offer support and connections to those considering home education. Do drop us a message if you're seeing a change in your own kids mental wellbeing that leads you to consider

Love Wellington

08/09/2024

Another fun day at Bewilderwood Cheshire for Home EdVenturers (National Events UK)
The sun came out and our kids loved exploring the woodland adventure park.
A great way for all ages to come back together after a summer break.