Smashing review

Paula R

Sep 15, 2022 • 3 min read

This morning we woke up to see a most wonderful review written by one of our parents. What a great feeling. We think it’s too good not to share it with the world! 😍😁💥

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"Children’s Village is where heart-centred living meets education. I home educate because I want my child to be able to be and become who she truly is, to unfold and bloom in her own way and in her own time without the pressures that come with traditional schooling.

And although we have a large, wonderful, vibrant and thriving home education community in South East London, I was finding that there was not enough stability or continuity for my daughter to have a rhythm or a structure she could relax into.

Then I found Children’s Village, which has been a Godsend not only for my daughter but also for me.

It provides the containment and consistency that I had been looking for for my daughter - seeing the same group of people each day and a familiar rhythm to the day - at the same time as every day being different and the activities based on what the children are interested in.

The day has anchor points for the children but at the same time they do not have to participate in a planned activity if they interests lie elsewhere at any given moment. There is always a loose plan for the day but at the same time the flexibility to adapt it or even throw it out of the window if the children spontaneously create something unexpected and run with that.

I feel that Paula and Paula have created an alternative educational environment that is truly sacred and quite magical in which the children can experience the joy of learning on their own terms at the same time as learning how to negotiate the boundaries and etiquette that come with committing to being part of a community.

For home educating parents Children’s Village provides a sense of community with cross-fertilisation of ideas and you are invited to be a parent volunteer with the freedom to contribute as much or as little as you want to or are able to. Some parents stay with their children and others drop them off and in this way the parents’ needs can be skilfully and gracefully met in the same way as the children’s are.

I cannot recommend Children’s Village highly enough. Paula and Paula are worth their weight in gold and are true pioneers of a vision for our children that empowers them to take charge of their own education at the same time as being skilfully and lovingly guided by adults who truly have their best interests at heart."

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Children’s Village is a democratic home education group for children aged 6-12 based at a sports club in Lee (SE12 8UF) and an adventure playground in Stockwell (SW9 0AD).