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A continuous mentoring approach designed to offer structure and support, while remaining adaptable to the changing needs of your family. Stay on track with guidance that evolves as you do. Monthly mentoring session.

A three-session mentoring program designed to help you regain clarity, build confidence, and move forward with renewed momentum. Each session is tailored to your needs, offering space for reflection, practical guidance, and achievable next steps.

Bio: With over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, I am Twinkl's National Lead for PVI Early Years Settings, Childminders, and Parents. I am deeply passionate about the well-being and development of babies and young children, particularly during their crucial first 1000 days. My career journey is diverse, encompassing roles as a local authority consultant, manager, university lecturer, school trustee, and early years advisor, as well as various positions within nurseries. As a mother of two, I understand the challenges and joys of parenthood firsthand. Additionally, I am a Director of a Community Interest Company , dedicated to empowering children in education. My passion lies in supporting both families and educators to ensure every child has the best possible start in life. For over a decade , Twinkl has been a trusted provider of high-quality, affordable teaching resources to educators worldwide. However, there's more to Twinkl than meets the eye. What Twinkl is k nown f or:  Our dedicated teams of content  creators, production teams, curriculum writers, graphic designers, and illustrators who bring learning to life every day. They continuously create a vast and expanding library of instantly downloadable inclusive educational resources, catering to educators, parents, schools, and homeschoolers. The range covers every stage of a child’s learning journey, from maternity and antenatal care, to a baby’s first year and secondary education.    What Twinkl is l ess k nown f or:  We also foster interactive online communities across all social media platforms, offer a wide range of podcasts ,  ebooks , blogs , live webinars , and online training courses . These initiatives empower educators to build meaningful connections and achieve sustainable professional development and growth. Greetings from Twinkl Parents Our Twinkl Parents team believe  in supporting parents to create enjoyable opportunities for children to learn at home, which are filled with moments of curiosity, fun and connection. Our team is made up of parents, health professionals and experienced educators who know firsthand how to balance busy family life with meaningful learning experiences. What makes Twinkl Parents special: Easy, ready-to-go resources : Activities and plans designed for busy families who want to support age appropriate learning without the pressure. Our resources range from editable Maternity Leave letters and baby shower games, to guidance on supporting a child to adjust to a new sibling, potty training and primary curriculum activities. Weekly newsletters and updates:  Parents can sign up to weekly newsletters for free, receive age and stage appropriate activity ideas for helping your child to learn and develop through play.   A friendly online community : A welcoming space where parents share tips, ideas, ask questions to our professionals and gain support and encouragement. Inspiration year-round:  From seasonally themed campaigns and crafts ideas to our popular social media pages and groups with tips, tricks and hacks to support every family. At Twinkl Parents , we listen to our community, create resources based on your feedback, and celebrate the amazing ways families learn together. We’re not just sharing printables, we’re helping you make learning part of your child’s everyday life at home. Where to find us: Browse resources on our web page at Twinkl Parents Hub  , join one of our Facebook groups Twinkl Midwife   Twinkl Pregnancy, Baby and Toddler Group   Twinkl Parents Group  or come and find our Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube communities for ideas and support. A warm welcome from Twinkl EYFS At Twinkl, our EYFS team has a simple mission: to be ‘ right there with you’  as you nurture those magical first years of learning and navigate Government legislation like the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. Whether you’re an early years educator, teacher or nanny, we’re here to make every aspect of your early years practice intentional, impactful and enjoyable. Our Twinkl EYFS team is a passionate group of early years teachers and professionals, who are experts in understanding how young children learn best, through connection, exploration and fun. What makes Twinkl EYFS special: ●     Play-based learning made simple:  Discover engaging activities and plans designed to build confidence and curiosity within the prime and specific areas of learning and development. ●     Guidance you can trust:  From phonics to fine motor skills, our expertly created content supports every stage of early learning and development. ●     Policy and guidance:  Feel safe in the knowledge that all of our content aligns with current legislation, Ofsted Inspection Frameworks and Apprenticeship level course requirements. Our Business Tools content line supports PVI and childminding providers with everything from accounting spreadsheets and invoicing templates and guidance, to risk assessments and recruitment documents. ●     Supportive online communities:  Join our online spaces where early years professionals share ideas, successes, and encouragement. ●     Seasonal events and campaigns:  Sign up to take part in purposefully planned weeks and months run by our marketing teams, who provide bespoke blogs, newsletters and curated content for, school based EYFS, PVI settings and Childminders. This ensures the content you see and the messages you receive are relevant to your specific role within early years. Where to find us: Explore thousands of early years resources at : Twinkl EYFS Teaching Resources , and connect with us on: Facebook: Twinkl.Childminders   , twinklprivateearlyyears   Twinkl Early Years Practitioners Group Instagram: Twinkl EY in Schools    Twinkl Childminders   Twinkl Private Early Years Tiktok:   Twinkl EY In Schools   Podcast: Twinkl Talks: EYFS Podcast You can also find us on YouTube and Pinterest for even more inspiration. A big hello from Twinkl Home Ed Our Twinkl Home Ed motto is ‘ Together on Your Home Ed Journey ’ because we truly are here to support families at every stage, whatever your Home Education style. While many know Twinkl for its huge range of teaching templates and curriculum resources, Twinkl Home Ed offers so much more. Our team is made up of Home Educating parents and teachers, so we understand what families really need to make learning enjoyable, flexible and inspiring. What makes Twinkl Home Ed special: ●     Planning made easy : Our Home Learning Hub  is perfect for families who want structure without the stress. ●     Free live lessons and events : to spark curiosity and bring learning to life. ●     A vibrant online community : Full of friendly support, shared experiences and connection with other Home Educating families. ●     Fun events : Provided throughout the year including Twinkl Home Ed Bake-Off, Weeks of Wonder, CSI investigations and plenty more. ●     A huge library of videos : with playlists featuring follow-along lessons, online challenges, kid-to-kid content, tips on getting the most out of Twinkl, and showcases of our resources in action. We’re always listening to our members, creating resources based on suggestions, running themed weeks and competitions, and helping families discover all the features their Twinkl membership includes. This genuine care and dedication is what makes our community so special. We’re not just providing resources, we’re walking the Home Education journey with you. Where to find us: Join our   Facebook group  to connect with other families. You’ll also find us on   Instagram ,   Pinterest  and YouTube. Whatever your needs whether as a parent, home educator or setting based educator, Twinkl is here to help make your children’s learning easy, inspiring, and full of joy, with over 1,000,000+ resources and growing,   so come and take another look.

At RECAP, we’re passionate about sharing research that helps families access trusted, evidence-based information. This latest report, Teaching RSHE in the Home: Perspectives, Practices, and Support Needs of a Sample of Home Educators in the UK , explores how home-educating parents approach Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and what support they need to do it confidently. This study was conducted by RECAP’s founder, Lucie Wheeler, as part of her role at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), in collaboration with Education Otherwise , a leading charity supporting home-educating families across the UK. The research sought to understand: How do home educators in the UK understand, approach, and deliver RSHE, and what support do they feel they need? Why this research matters RSHE is a statutory part of the school curriculum, helping young people learn about relationships, health, consent, online safety and wellbeing. But for home-educating families - who are not required to follow the national curriculum - there’s far less guidance available. This study fills an important gap, shining a light on how RSHE is currently being taught in home settings, and where families would value more help and resources. What we found From 33 survey responses  across the UK, an overwhelming 97% of home educators said they deliver RSHE  to their children. Most described doing so informally, through open, everyday conversations rather than structured lessons - a flexible, child-led approach that reflects the ethos of home education itself. Parents viewed RSHE as much more than “sex education.” They described it as covering: Healthy friendships and relationships Consent and boundaries Emotional wellbeing and mental health Physical and sexual health Online safety and digital awareness Identity, diversity, and inclusion While many respondents felt confident in their understanding, 42% said they would welcome more support , particularly around complex or sensitive topics such as gender identity, pornography, and online risks. How families resource their RSHE teaching Home educators are creative and resourceful. They draw on books, YouTube videos, BBC Bitesize, Talk to Frank , and peer recommendations, alongside their own life experience. However, many said they struggle to find inclusive, trauma-informed, and age-appropriate materials  that reflect their values and their children’s needs. Several parents also shared that they’d appreciate guidance on how to start tricky conversations  or training opportunities  to help them navigate sensitive topics with confidence. Key recommendations Based on these insights, the report suggests five ways to better support home-educating families: Provide flexible frameworks , not prescriptive curricula. Curate a trusted directory  of age-appropriate, inclusive, values-aware resources. Offer conversation guides  on sensitive topics like consent, online risks, and pornography. Develop trauma-informed RSHE pathways  for families with lived experience of trauma. Create opportunities for parental training and peer support. In summary This research highlights the commitment, creativity, and care  home-educating parents bring to RSHE and the need for trusted, accessible guidance  to help them continue doing so effectively. By amplifying home educators’ voices, we can ensure that every child - wherever they learn - has access to the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a complex, connected world. 📄 Read the full report:   Teaching RSHE in the Home (Wheeler, 2025) 📧

Veronica Williams Veronica is a Freelance Artist Educator who runs Home Ed Creatives (LIVE Online Art Classes). She also collaborates with Charities and Businesses to offer Creative Workshops. She Home Educated her two sons up until the ages of 14 & 17. Both are now at University. Children are born with a remarkable gift of being curious .  As parents you are likely to be familiar with questions children frequently ask: “What is happening?” “Where are you going? “Why do I have to go to bed?” Curiosity begets creativity.  Great art, products, inventions and discoveries are creative works sparked by a sense of curiosity by humans. The challenge today is ensuring that our children who are growing up as Digital Natives, stay curious and continue to have their creativity nurtured, Here three simple yet impactful ways that you can help nurture your child’s creativity.  1.      Stay Curious “Creativity takes Courage” Henri Mattisse (1869 -1954), French Visual Artist It takes courage to see things differently; especially as we get older.  Young children however, are natural explorers. If you need a reminder, try giving a young child a wooden spoon and a saucepan and see what happens. Stay curious with your child. Ask questions in an age appropriate way and discover things together. Doing it with Art materials is a great way to start. It can be as simple as saying, “I wonder what happens when I mix some blue paint with yellow paint.” If painting feels intimidating, start with crayons or colour pencils. Remember no one is expecting you to produce a masterpiece - you are encouraging curiosity which underpins creative thinking. 2.      Prioritise Creativity “Creativity is as important as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” Sir Ken Robinson (1950 - 2020), Author, Speaker and International Advisor on Education We enjoy creativity through the timeless stories, plays and movies we love. With the increasing presence of AI permeating our lives; Sir Ken Robinson’s words ring louder than ever. Children's books are a great way to start.  The next time you read a book with your child, look at the illustration on the front and back cover.  Notice how the title is designed - it’s size, colour and spacing.  Are there drawings of the main characters?  Ask your child why he thinks the illustrator has chosen to draw it in that way. The same type of questions can be done over breakfast with a Cereal box or even when you are out and about as you look at different signs.  Taking steps to prioritise creativity and deliberately weaving it in our times with our children regularly will help nurture their creativity. 3. Explore local resources “When in doubt go to the library.” J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Your local library might not be as enchanting as the Hogwarts Library but it can be a treasure trove of inspiration.  I personally love going to the non-fiction section and looking through books on Visual Arts and Crafts.  These books are like portals to famous Artists Studios and sketchbooks.  There is no need to read from cover to cover. Just leafing through the images with your child might spark their interest.  Your library might also run Art classes or have a notice board about things that are happening in the local area - perhaps a local Art Club is putting up an exhibition.  In some cities, libraries have a local Museum in the same building. Apart from Libraries, there might be National Trust or English Heritage site nearby which might have education packs and activities for children. For older children, consider taking sketch book and some pencils for your child and to do observational sketching. Whenever I have done this with children, I am often pleasantly surprised by the amount of positive comments by other visitors about seeing children draw in public. Nurturing creativity is a vital practice that promotes overall well-being not just in children but adults.  By taking steps to help nurture  creativity in our children today, we are contributing towards building their confidence and resilience as they mature into adulthood.

Explore the challenges & benefits of unschooling with our Research Simplified resource The Challenges & Benefits of Unschooling What’s it really like to unschool and why are more families choosing it? This Research Simplified resource explores findings from a global survey of 232 families who use unschooling - a form of home education where children learn through everyday life, rather than formal lessons or set curricula. The study looked at why families chose unschooling, how they define it, the benefits they’ve seen, and the challenges they’ve faced. Many reported more confident, curious and happy children, along with stronger family bonds and greater flexibility. But it also highlighted real difficulties, from social pressures to financial strain. 💡 This resource breaks down the research in a clear, accessible way - perfect for curious parents, supportive professionals, or anyone exploring self-directed learning paths. 🔍 Includes practical insights, takeaways, and key points to consider if you’re thinking about or supporting unschooling. 🔗 Want to explore the full study? (PDF) The Challenges and Benefits of Unschooling, According to 232 Families Who Have Chosen that Route

On this page you will find a list of publications and news updates from RECAP. Publications & News Publication : Article published with The Conversation on Home Education: Why are so many parents choosing it over mainstream school. Link Here Attended ChildCare Expo show, 2024, in London. Attended The Nursery World 2024 Show in London. Publication : Article accepted with SAGE Publications: 'Using Literature Reviews to Research Marginalized Groups: The Case of Research on Carers in Higher Education '. - (Open Access Link ) Attended the Mothers at Home Matter (MAHM) conference on Mothering Identity. Event presentation : Attended the SRHE conference in December 2023 and presented two papers: 'Doing the dirty work of academia? Ancillary staff in higher education' and 'Making connections between research and ancillary staff experiences in higher education'. Event presentation : 'Parent, Teacher...or both? The dual role of the home educator ' presented at Anglia Ruskin University PGR research conference. Media event: Spoke on the Teachers Talk Radio podcast : GCSEs as a Home-Educated Student. (Link to Podcast) Event presentation : Attended the BERA annual conference and presented work on ' Exploring the experiences of home-educated families’ access to GCSE level qualifications and the barriers they face.' Publication: Article accepted into SAGE Open journal: 'Teacher Perspectives on primary-secondary transition projects during the COVID-19 pandemic ' - ( Open Access link .) Home Education: Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges - presented at the ARU annual research conference: Research and Public Value. May 2023 Publication : Abstract accepted for the BERA annual conference in September 2023 - presenting author on the project: 'Exploring the experiences of home-educated families’ access to GCSE level qualifications and the barriers they face.' Publication : Article accepted into the International Journal of Educational & Life Transitions (IJELT): 'Widening access for Home-Educated Applicants to Higher Education Institutes. ' ( Open Access link ). Event presentation : Presented Home Education research at the launch of a university initiative, Safe & Inclusive Communities. Funding awarded at ARU for new project: 'Exploring the experiences of home-educated families’ access to GCSE level qualifications and the barriers they face.' Media event : Spoke on the Teachers Talk Radio Podcast - Home Education: The what, why and how. ( Link to podcast ) Publication : Article accepted into Review of Education journal: 'Through a glass, darkly: Gazing into the field of carers in academia. ( Open access link ) Publication: Article accepted for the Encyclopedia of Social Justice: Gender and Sexuality with my piece titled Homeschooling and Mothering Work. ( In production - link to follow ) Event presentation : Presented findings for 'Widening access for Home-Educated Applicants to Higher Education Institutes' at the Chelmsford Science Festival.

Learn about Mark Alefounder's role on the RECAP advisory board at our Education Research Center in Chelmsford, UK. Discover his contributions now! Mark Alefounder Business Advisor, Lets Do Business Group Development & Growth Panel Mark Alefounder is a seasoned business advisor with a strong track record in helping organisations grow, scale, and thrive. With extensive experience across sectors including financial services, technology, and logistics, Mark has worked with startups, high-net-worth individuals, and global brands such as Boeing and JCB. His expertise spans business development, sales strategy, and performance management. Throughout his career, Mark has led award-winning teams, launched new ventures, and implemented systems that have delivered measurable impact-such as increasing lead conversion by over 70% and helping businesses scale by up to 500%. He has also secured strategic partnerships generating over £250 million in business. Currently serving as Business Advisory Manager at Let’s Do Business Group, Mark supports a wide range of enterprises with funding, strategy, and sustainable growth. He brings a practical, people-focused approach and is passionate about helping mission-driven organisations achieve their potential. Mark joined the RECAP advisory board to contribute his expertise in strategic development and business growth. He is deeply aligned with RECAP’s mission to make research accessible and actionable for families and professionals. Based in Colchester, Mark enjoys photography, motorcycle racing, long walks, and time with his grandchildren - ideally over a good curry.