activities that involve them with other children. Some homeschooling families meet to take children on group outings.

Help for homeschoolers For parents considering homeschooling – either through choice or necessity – there is a wide array of resources on the internet to draw on. Not only is there advice on the nuts and bolts of a child’s education, such as selecting a curriculum, timetabling studies and devising ef fective teaching strategies, but there are also organisations that aim to help with the social aspects, such as forums and groups of homeschoolers who meet up for days out and to glean tips from others. Tutors and study centres are also an option for homeschooling families to use if children need a little more help than parents can provide, or if children would beneft from a different approach to their studies. One new addition to the educational landscape which has been a valuable resource

for many families is the Hong Kong International Learning Academy (HKILA) in Discovery Bay. Head of the accademy Justine Barlow explains, “At HKILA, children who are currently homeschooled or who are not able to access mainstream education can come and study in a welcoming environment. We can advise on a number of curriculum choices from around the globe for full- and part-time tuition, so parents can choose a curriculum that is right for their child. We organise the curriculum and monitor progress with the study materials, as well as maintaining motivation and teaching independent learning skills. We also offer a valuable opportunity for students to socialise with their peers.

“Most of our enquiries come from parents who are unable to secure school places for their children. Last year, when Year Three places were incredibly tight, we were approached by a group of parents and asked if we could provide tuition for their

children, who had been educated up to Primary Two level but had been left without Primary Three provision. This we did for the entire academic year so students could continue their education whilst waiting for mainstream places to open up. Those students have all made a successful transition into mainstream schools. If we cannot offer a place (we are currently full), we can provide information on alternative online education providers for children.” So whether you are considering homeschool ing because you want more say in what your chi ld learns and how he learns it, or because the cost of school ing is prohibit ive, or because you have been unable to secure a place in a school, you are not alone in Hong Kong. Getting a good education for your child is undoubtedly one of the biggest worries for parents. But as our homeschooling families show, getting a good education doesn’t always have to begin and end in a mainstream school.