Inspired by the challenges she faced with her now 15-year-old son, Kimberley Vallis from Yate, Bristol has decided enough is enough, and to do something about it. She has formed a support network for homeschooled kids. Homeschooled from the age of 11, Nathan has learned critical skills like plumbing, photography, carpentry, and bicycle maintenance. Her artwork provides an imaginative yet ordered setting for young people to play and interact. It caters to the needs that traditional schools are unable or unwilling to serve.
Vallis, a former teaching assistant, decided to home-school her son. She didn’t want him to have the negative experiences that were happening to him in elementary school. She understood that returning to a conventional school environment would only add to his struggle. “Some of our young people aren’t made to be sitting in desks, it’s not conducive to who they are,” Vallis noted, emphasizing the need for alternative educational pathways.
Vallis educates not just her older son, but gives home lessons for one of her younger sons. She does all this on a flexible, part-time schedule. This approach has opened new doors for her to create bespoke learning experiences that meet their specific needs. Her husband collaborates with her on the Edventure Project, which serves as a support group for parents who home-school their children. The collective hosts collaborative arts activities and workshops that are meant to encourage social engagement, even for home-schooled kids.
Emotional well-being is critical to learning. Vallis emphasized that emotional well-being goes hand in hand with the learning process. “We’ve got a lot of parents who have kids with unmet needs in the group. You need to feel well to be able to have the confidence to learn,” she stated. This very inclusive environment serves to assist not just the children, but the entire families as well.
The Edventure Project fits hand-in-glove with the educational direction espoused by state officials at all levels. A spokesperson from the Department for Education emphasized the importance of ensuring that every child receives a suitable education tailored to their individual needs. “That includes making sure every child is receiving a suitable education for their age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs whether they are in school or at home,” the spokesperson affirmed.
It is through these passionate endeavors that Vallis hopes to remove barriers that prevent children from accessing learning opportunities beyond the traditional, and often restrictive, classroom environment. By creating a community that supports diverse learning styles and emotional health, she hopes to empower families in similar situations.
