Kids in class of their own: Guy and Debbie Tebbutt on a regular home-schoolers' day out with their children, from left, Kacey, 8, Joel (with mum), 4, Lauren, 11, and Courtney, 13. Picture: Gary Warrick
Kids in class of their own: Guy and Debbie Tebbutt on a regular home-schoolers' day out with their children, from left, Kacey, 8, Joel (with mum), 4, Lauren, 11, and Courtney, 13. Picture: Gary Warrick
SCHOOL days and home time blend seamlessly for the growing number of home-schooled children.
Thirteen-year-old Courtney Tebbutt of Llandilo last saw the inside of a school room four years ago.
"I love it. I do school work in my own time and I get to do a lot of different activities," Courtney said.
"I'm not on my own either because [through home-schooling] I meet lots of people my own age."
Her parents, Guy and Debbie Tebbutt, decided to home-school Courtney and their three younger children after their daughter completed year 4.
Mr Tebbutt, who is the Western Sydney Home Educators' moderator, said he knew of at least 100 families around Penrith and St Marys who chose home-schooling.
"As a family we have more flexibility and we can do things as we choose," he said.
But he said home-schooling would not suit everyone.
"I'm self-employed and mostly work from home so it's easy for Debbie and me," he said.
Parents or carers who want to home-school children register with the NSW Board of Studies and regularly receive teaching material.
"We comply with the same standards schools do," Mr Tebbutt said. "I devote about four hours a day to it, but you don't have to be a teacher.
"We provide the kids with the resources and find that 90 per cent of the time they teach themselves."
He said the internet and software made most of this possible.
Western Sydney Home Educators meet for social activities, including ice-skating, sports and excursions.
Kurrajong resident Joanne, who did not want her family name used, said she and her husband had wanted more time with their children.
"I was also worried about bullying in schools," Joanne said.
"How can one teacher watch 50 kids in a playground?"
She said her six-year-old son seemed to grow with home-schooling.
"He's so confident; I've seen him talking with kids twice his age," she said.
Courtney said she had liked school when she was there, but is glad her parents decided on home-schooling.
Western Sydney Home Educators: 0414 559 979.