It’s the final episode of Season 4 of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, and we’re keeping up our (now official!) yearly tradition: a relaxed, honest Year in Reflection. Kelly and Ashley look back on what’s worked in their home education lives this year—what’s felt joyful, what’s been challenging, and what they want to carry forward into next year. Expect a cosy, chatty recap filled with real-life wins, lessons learned, and practical ideas you can borrow for your own home ed. In this episode, we talk about:

• Why travel (UK trips, camping, and overseas adventure) brings built-in novelty and learning—especially for neurodivergent families
• Using different modes of transport (ferries, trains) as learning opportunities and curiosity fuel
• The ongoing juggle of routines, energy and extracurriculars (pony share, forest school, climbing, online classes)
• How read-alouds, audiobooks and book studies have shaped learning, sparked big conversations, and supported reluctant readers
• Regulation tools, movement, and mixing up learning mediums (chalk pens, drawing on glass, sensory supports)
• Enterprise learning through craft fairs and kid-led projects
• What we’re adjusting next year: social rhythms, responsibilities/chores, games, and finding a better balance

We also share a huge thank you to everyone who’s listened, reviewed, shared, and supported Season 4—and we’ll be taking a short break before returning for Season 5 in the spring. Don't forget to subscribe and catch up on earlier episodes while you wait! Keywords: home education UK, home ed year in review, neurodivergent home education, unschooling, eclectic homeschooling, home ed travel, home education routines, read alouds, audiobooks for kids, home ed resources Stay connected:
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @bighomeedpodcast, and catch up on any episodes you’ve missed while we’re on break. We’ll also be dropping the occasional book review over the winter.

In this episode of the BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Kelly and Ashley get real about adultism—the often-unquestioned power imbalance between adults and children. Inspired by fellow home educating mum and respected expert on Adultism, Eloise Rickman and her book 'It's Not Fair', they reflect on how even the most conscious parents can slip into controlling patterns, and what it means to truly respect kids as full people.

They discuss:

• What adultism is, and how it shows up in everyday family life.
• The challenge of letting go of control as kids grow and assert themselves.
• Why children’s rights and autonomy matter (and why most of us never learned about them.)
• The impact of language, discipline, and school structures on children’s self-worth.
• Personal stories about food battles, bodily autonomy, and learning to find a balance between protection and control.
• How to balance safety, boundaries and respect—without losing your mind as a parent!

Kelly and Ashley share honest moments of vulnerability, cringe from some seriously eye opening moments experienced whilst reading, and how important growth is in this area, as well as offering practical ways to shift from a power-over dynamic to a more collaborative, compassionate approach.

They highlight the importance of compromise, self-reflection, and community support for parents doing this work.

Take it further: Listen in for inspiration, solidarity, and practical ideas to help you rethink your own patterns and raise more empowered, respected kids. Join the conversation on Instagram or TikTok @bighomeedpodcast, or via the blog www.offroadingmotherhood.co.uk/blog

Don't forget to grab a copy of Eloise Rickman's book, 'It's Not Fair' to take your journey down this road further

Keywords: adultism, respectful parenting, children’s rights, home education UK, conscious parenting, autonomy for kids, power dynamics, BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast

• Why over half of the world’s refugee children are currently out of school
• The hidden barriers refugee learners face in the UK (language, trauma, missing records, complex systems)
• How academic potential is misjudged when language and PTSD get mistaken for “low ability”
• Incredible resilience and self‑motivation – from teens fighting to sit GCSEs to those dreaming of rebuilding their home countries
• The emotional impact of prejudice, othering and hostile narratives about refugees
• How schools can better recognise prior learning (mother‑tongue GCSEs, accelerated learning, subject‑specific language support)
• What home‑educating families can do to talk about refugees, challenge stereotypes and raise more compassionate kids

• The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf - Get it here.
• Refugee Education UK - https://www.reuk.org/donate