How Home-schooling Helped a Child with Special Needs Thrive

Supporting children with special needs often means navigating complex decisions about education. One student I worked with faced challenges in a high-behavioural needs classroom, where her natural tendency to imitate others — usually a strength in her learning — became problematic. She began copying negative behaviours from peers, which led to her being reprimanded and excluded despite these actions being largely out of her control.

Her family and I recognised that she was falling behind academically and socially. Knowing that imitation was not a behaviour she would simply “grow out of,” we explored alternatives. The solution we arrived at was home-schooling.

Why Home-schooling?

By creating a customised and nurturing environment at home, we could reduce distractions and design a program tailored to her learning style. This included:

• A structured daily routine to provide consistency and stability
• Modified curriculum using the Teacch method, adapted to real-life situations
• Integration of therapies into everyday lessons, ensuring support across settings
• Opportunities for community involvement, such as dance, sport, and wellness activities

The Transition

The move to home-schooling was not without its challenges, particularly around ensuring adequate socialisation. We found that the student’s energy levels dipped later in the afternoon, making after-school activities less suitable. Instead, her week was enriched through structured weekend programs like yoga, community sport, and group activities — often leaving her social calendar fuller than her caregivers’.

The Next Step

After nine months of home-schooling, she was ready to integrate into a new school environment with fewer students displaying challenging behaviours. This provided a calmer setting where she could continue building confidence, social skills, and positive learning experiences.

Positive Outcomes

Since transitioning, her personal development has grown significantly. She has become more self-assured, more engaged in her learning, and better able to pursue her interests. Importantly, home-schooling provided the flexibility to focus on both academic and life skills, preparing her for greater independence.

Looking ahead, the goal is to reintegrate her into mainstream education once she is ready — this time into a setting with stronger supports in place to build on her progress.

Key Takeaway

Home-schooling isn’t the right fit for every family, but in this case it offered a personalised and flexible pathway that allowed a young learner to thrive. With the right structure, support, and community connections, children with special needs can achieve meaningful growth in both education and life skills.