Distance Education Primary School

It is looking increasingly likely that when Yasin starts school next year we will be using Sydney Distance Education Primary School. Has anyone got any experience with distance education? Were you satisfied with it or not? Do you think that getting approval to home school might be a better option. I'm a bit daunted by the idea of developing my own curriculum which is why a school of distant education is more appealing.
Any insights into how to make the program work better for us and so on would be very gratefully received. :)

i did it by at high school level,it was ok but not like going to an actual school, but it might be diff there, the teachers might not be as stupid

I did Dubbo School of Distance Education for about 6 months.
We were pretty happy with it (parents included). Work was posted to us in weekly bundles, then we posted it back.
All 3 of us did better than we'd ever done at school.

Everything is set out ready to go. I think it would be easier than home schooling as the curriculum is already set, you just need to do the work.
They also have camps & work shops for the kids to attend to spend time with the other kids & get to know them.

BJ, did you go back to school afterwards? How did you go slotting back into the school curriculum/environment? Is there anything that could make the home to school transition easier?
There's no chance of attending camps but I might ask the school when/if the time comes if there are any other pupils nearby that we could meet every now and then for some kind of group activity.

I'm sorry to hear about stupid teachers but then again I will be the main teacher and I know from my own school days that bad teachers are available in all the systems.

Going back to mainstream school didn't seem to bother any of us. I was 13, my brother 11 & my sister 8.
We went back to our old schools in the new year. At first people thought we'd moved away & moved back, but my parents worked in shearing sheds, so we travelled with them.
We were only out of school for 6 months though.

My cousin was home schooled full time & it has had a very negative affect on his whole life. He went to school for a few months here & there, but his mother always pulled him out when she realised they were only teaching him stuff for his age group (She had him doing year 7 maths at 6.)
They also never really spent time around other children or people. She is a single mum & there are only the two of them. He has no idea how to interact with other people. He is a very smart kid, but because he's never been socialised he treats everyone around him like they are completely dumb & incompetent. We are thinking his mother maybe paranoya schitzofrenic though. She appears to be & my grandfather was, so obviously these things aren't the norm.

After seeing that though I have never liked the idea of home schooling at all. Its only my experience & only full time, but I have pretty warped views on it.

Honestly though DSODE was great IMO. If I had to I would do it with my kids. If your worried about the home school transition I think just make sure he is around kids as much as possible out side of school.
My BIL & SIL went to a primary school of 12 kids. My SIL went straight to high school with 1000 kids & it was a bit daunting for her. My BIL did year 6 in a bigger primary school before high school, so the transition was easier for him.

Are you a Primary School teacher?
If the answer is no why even think about Home Schooling. Do Distance Education they have all the materials to match your childs. I know a family that did it while travelling around the world and there girl came back in front of her peers.
Teaching your child won't be a piece of cake but why create extra work for yourself by trying to figure out all the maths and english and other stuff you need to teach.

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Are you a Primary School teacher?
If the answer is no why even think about Home Schooling. Do Distance Education they have all the materials to match your childs. I know a family that did it while travelling around the world and there girl came back in front of her peers.
Teaching your child won't be a piece of cake but why create extra work for yourself by trying to figure out all the maths and english and other stuff you need to teach.

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I'm sorry but I find your post a little offensive.
I am not a teacher, nor do I intend to home school my son, but there are plenty of people out there who do home school their children, are not teachers, and probably do a better job than some "qualified" teachers.
I think you need to word your opinions a little better.

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Are you a Primary School teacher?
If the answer is no why even think about Home Schooling. Do Distance Education they have all the materials to match your childs. I know a family that did it while travelling around the world and there girl came back in front of her peers.
Teaching your child won't be a piece of cake but why create extra work for yourself by trying to figure out all the maths and english and other stuff you need to teach.

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I think our Bron is capable of ANYTHING and EVERYTHING ;)

Friends of mine do home schooling through Distancd Education Vic. They had tried home schooling by themselves which didn't work out, then sent the kids back to school where they didn't cope (don't know the reasons) before trying DE. They say it's fantastic and their kids are ahead of where they should be. The kids also have to be involved in so many hours of extra curricular activity with other kids according to some ruling with Distance Ed or home schooling, can't remember which one, so they meet up with other home schooled families in the area and do 1 afternoon activity each (swimming lessons I think).

I studied some subjects through Distance Education in high school because my school didn't offer the subjects I wanted to do. I found it was good, the teachers were very approachable and helpful.

My cousin used distance ed for a year with 2 of her kids and found it really great, they sent everything she needed and followed up.
I actually agree with Pink peg, if you weren't trained to do something why not use the expertise of someone who is?

I contacted the office and they were really friendly. We're going in in october to enrol him and meet with his teacher.

Goodluck!! :D