How things are organised
Activities are run or organised with a third party and/or by volunteer parents; there may be age requirements and/or limits on numbers, etc. There are no dedicated resources made available to us a community for SEND provision but many children in the community do have SEND so parents take responsibility for researching and finding things that are a fit for their children and where capacity allows, collaborating with each other and helping to create opportunities they'd like to see if they don't already exist. Many activities offer trial sessions. Some sessions such as park meet-ups and Cambridge Kids Club home education slots can be accessed as ad hoc sessions where you and/or your children can meet other home educating children/families to share your journey with.
Shared calendar
There is a shared calendar (non-public for safeguarding reasons) calendar which any member of the CHEF Google group (which is also an email list) can contribute to following the guidelines for doing so. Note, according to Google, you'll receive the calendar details within an hour of sign up.
Google group conversations archive
You can also search conversations which have taken place via the email group for more details and previous discussions about activities you find there e.g. search if you search 'parkour' or 'tennis' you'll be able to see historic email threads with further information or you can email the group for more details. The screenshot shows how to search the archive:
Shared calendar
There is a shared calendar (non-public for safeguarding reasons) calendar which any member of the CHEF Google group (which is also an email list) can contribute to following the guidelines for doing so. Note, according to Google, you'll receive the calendar details within an hour of sign up.
Google group conversations archive
You can also search conversations which have taken place via the email group for more details and previous discussions about activities you find there e.g. search if you search 'parkour' or 'tennis' you'll be able to see historic email threads with further information or you can email the group for more details. The screenshot shows how to search the archive:
Social media and whatsapp
The community also makes use of Facebook, Slack or WhatsApp; links to those umbrella groups below with other emerging as needed once an activity is established – the organisers will be able to give you further information on those.
Variety of activities
Examples of activities that happen on a regular basis include things like art, dance, parkour, basketball, football, drama, French, Science, book clubs, outdoor meet ups, self-directed learning groups, ice skating, swimming and gymnastics.
The community also makes use of Facebook, Slack or WhatsApp; links to those umbrella groups below with other emerging as needed once an activity is established – the organisers will be able to give you further information on those.
Variety of activities
Examples of activities that happen on a regular basis include things like art, dance, parkour, basketball, football, drama, French, Science, book clubs, outdoor meet ups, self-directed learning groups, ice skating, swimming and gymnastics.
Online communities
Here is a selection of useful online communities for connecting with other local home educators (please send suggestions for changes or additions to [email protected]):
WHATSAPP
0-7 Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Goa3ex2lC5KJT9Brnqh2AG
7-12 Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HWLH3a7kWuw8dZj7QKRfFS
13+ teens only Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FYy57M6TtjJ03ivpTWk7vF
SEND whatsapp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LTci1s0VUXD2ROXXSXOcle
FACEBOOK
Home Education Cambridge https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeedcambridge
Home Education Cambridgeshire: www.facebook.com/groups/137347736464873/
Home Education March: https://m.facebook.com/groups/420107028446193/?ref=share
Home Education Fenlands: https://m.facebook.com/groups/FenlandHE/?ref=share
Home education under 8s Cambridgeshire https://www.facebook.com/groups/478778375805316
Cambridgeshire Home Education Exams: https://www.facebook.com/groups/754296992000829
Home Education in Peterborough: www.facebook.com/homeeducationpeterborough/
Ely Home Education Starting Point: www.facebook.com/groups/1557319591236233/
Home Education - Cambourne: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1736349439992200/
Home Ed Biggleswade, Gamlingay, Sandy, St Neots & Surrounding Villages www.facebook.com/groups/1378427669065080/
Cambs/Herts/Suffolk/Essex 11+ Home Education www.facebook.com/groups/291758097876571
WEBSITES
HE and Special Needs: www.he-special.org.uk
Website with lots of information about exams: https://he-exams.fandom.com/wiki/HE_Exams_Wiki
Home ed Help (Cambridge): https://homeed.primary.academy/
EMAIL LISTS
HE exams mailing list: https://groups.io/g/HE-Exams
Cambridgeshire Home Educating Families (CHEF) google/email group: https://groups.google.com/g/Cambridge-Home-Educating-Families
0-7 Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Goa3ex2lC5KJT9Brnqh2AG
7-12 Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HWLH3a7kWuw8dZj7QKRfFS
13+ teens only Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FYy57M6TtjJ03ivpTWk7vF
SEND whatsapp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LTci1s0VUXD2ROXXSXOcle
Home Education Cambridge https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeedcambridge
Home Education Cambridgeshire: www.facebook.com/groups/137347736464873/
Home Education March: https://m.facebook.com/groups/420107028446193/?ref=share
Home Education Fenlands: https://m.facebook.com/groups/FenlandHE/?ref=share
Home education under 8s Cambridgeshire https://www.facebook.com/groups/478778375805316
Cambridgeshire Home Education Exams: https://www.facebook.com/groups/754296992000829
Home Education in Peterborough: www.facebook.com/homeeducationpeterborough/
Ely Home Education Starting Point: www.facebook.com/groups/1557319591236233/
Home Education - Cambourne: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1736349439992200/
Home Ed Biggleswade, Gamlingay, Sandy, St Neots & Surrounding Villages www.facebook.com/groups/1378427669065080/
Cambs/Herts/Suffolk/Essex 11+ Home Education www.facebook.com/groups/291758097876571
WEBSITES
HE and Special Needs: www.he-special.org.uk
Website with lots of information about exams: https://he-exams.fandom.com/wiki/HE_Exams_Wiki
Home ed Help (Cambridge): https://homeed.primary.academy/
EMAIL LISTS
HE exams mailing list: https://groups.io/g/HE-Exams
Cambridgeshire Home Educating Families (CHEF) google/email group: https://groups.google.com/g/Cambridge-Home-Educating-Families
Getting involved
As people home educate in so many different ways it can sometimes take time to find groups and activities that work for your family. Home education groups can have very different ways of operating and not all will work for everyone. You are warmly encouraged to use the Google group email list to join or set up regular and one off groups and activities and organise social media/whatsapp groups around specific topics or activities.
If the thing you're looking for doesn't exist already, consider creating it, you'll find allies using the links on this page to help you! Do post any other questions you may have to the Google group too, introduce yourself and your family on there and please do get involved by answering questions for others once you've got into the swing of things.
If the thing you're looking for doesn't exist already, consider creating it, you'll find allies using the links on this page to help you! Do post any other questions you may have to the Google group too, introduce yourself and your family on there and please do get involved by answering questions for others once you've got into the swing of things.