Official and private estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000. There's a whole range of rather nasty threats,'' he added. That is exactly the kind of attitude that put Leslie Barson off school in the first place. Like Ms. Lowe, Ms. Barson opted out at the day-care level. Now, she runs The Otherwise Club, which since 1993 has offered resources and support to about 30 home-educating families at a north London community center two days a week.
Many families turn to such groups, if only to ensure that their kids socialize with their peers.
Many rely on outside help. The Lowe children, like Louis Barson, study music and languages with other home-educating parents, some of whom are qualified teachers. The Lowes have a video player, but no television, five computers and three CD-Roms. The Lowes initial ad hoc approach has become more structured. Home educators say their children learn early to be independent and take responsibility for their own learning.