Supporting Home Education
Welcome to SML College! We understand that many parents choose the home education route because traditional schooling doesn't always fit their child’s needs. Whether your child has tried school and found it unsuitable or you’re seeking a more personalised approach to education, SML College is here to support your journey. At SML College, we offer a unique opportunity to complement your home schooling efforts with enriching sessions designed to inspire and empower students.
Why Choose SML College for Your Home Education Needs?
Personalised Learning Experience
Just as home schooling is tailored to your child's unique needs, our approach at SML College is equally bespoke. Students decide what they want to learn and how they want to learn it – and we support them to do this. It’s that simple.
Holistic Learning Environment
Our half-day sessions are designed to provide a balanced blend of learning, creative exploration and social engagement. We believe in nurturing the whole child, ensuring they thrive not just academically but emotionally and socially.
Support from Learning Advisors
We call our core staff Learning Advisors as they are not here to impose a curriculum. Rather they are here to assist learners. Our Learning Advisors are passionate and experienced in their respective fields. We are able to support a wider range of subjects than any local school. With a deep understanding of diverse learning styles, our team is adept at creating a supportive and stimulating environment for every student and support them to learn whatever they wish to learn.
Social Connections
Home schooling can sometimes be isolating. At SML College, students have the chance to interact and collaborate with peers, building essential social skills and forming meaningful friendships in a community setting.
Image: Fun times and friendship at SML College.
What We Offer
Half-Day Sessions
Our half-day programmes run Mon – Fri, either morning or afternoon and can complement your existing home schooling schedule.
Learning Your Way
Schools assume that students will learn the same things, in the same way, at the same time. Our environment caters to students as individuals and we encourage exploration of different interests and ways of learning. Taking responsibility for one’s own learning, and learning to learn, are vital skills in a fast-changing world. We have a low student - staff ratio so support is tailored to the individual.
Structure and Flexibility
The SML approach values learning with others and collaboration. There are three elements at its core:
- The Learning Community
- The Learning Group
- The Learning Agreement
This structure supports the demands of individuals and organisations for the 21st century. Self Managed Learning allows students to gain skills that are relevant to the world we live in. More importantly, they take responsibility for their own learning, can make decisions and work collaboratively.
Supportive Community
Join a vibrant community of families. Share experiences, exchange ideas, and build a network of support with like-minded parents and students.
Image: A creative session with Sarah
Our Approach
We find that many parents have chosen the home education route because they see the problems with traditional schooling. Often their child has tried school - and it has not worked out, for whatever reason. As parents are legally obliged to ensure their child receives a suitable education, and they discover that school is not suitable, choosing something else is not just sensible but legally required.
Initially, home education may work really well. However, as a child gets older, many parents recognise the value of a small, caring learning community that supports any child learning anything they want – and in any way they want. That’s where we come in. By providing a part-time facility that is genuinely child-centred, we find that many home educating parents come to us for support.
Given that any child (aged over 9) can try out our approach via a trial week, parents recognise that they have nothing to lose in trying out our learning community. As there is no commitment necessary for a child doing a trial week, they can walk away if they do not find it congenial.
Why Choose SML College for Your Home Schooling Needs?
Holistic Learning Environment
Our half-day sessions are able to provide a balanced blend of academic learning, creative exploration, and social engagement. We believe in nurturing the whole child, ensuring they thrive not just academically but emotionally and socially.
Personalised Learning Experience
Just as home schooling is tailored to your child's unique needs, our approach at SML College is equally bespoke. We align our sessions to complement your home schooling.
Expert-Led Sessions
Our educators are passionate and experienced, dedicated to supporting home-schooled students. With a deep understanding of diverse learning styles, our team is adept at creating a supportive and stimulating environment for every child.
Image: Lars, one of our Learning Advisers who specialises in maths, physics, German, engineering and construction.
About Us
SML College is a unique learning community providing Self Managed Learning programmes in the Brighton area for over 20 years. We offer a welcoming and caring environment for all children without judgement. Young people, aged 9-17, decide for themselves what, how, when and where they learn. There’s no imposed curriculum, no imposed timetable, no imposed lessons and no uniform. We encourage curiosity and inquisitiveness to help students find out what they're passionate about.
Since the College opened, every student who has left at age 16 has gone into Further Education, or a career. It is a lively and exciting place to learn in, fostering an environment where children can thrive and pursue their interests.
Our Facilities
Based in Fishersgate near Brighton, SML College has recently expanded by taking over a former primary school. This new space allows us to provide a diverse and enriching environment for our students. Here’s what our facilities include:
- Dedicated Rooms: We have specialised rooms such as a music room, art room, design and technology workshop, science area and computer room, each equipped to support a range of creative and technical activities.
- Outdoor Space and Gardens: Our large outdoor areas and gardens provide space for sports, physical activities and outdoor learning.
- Sensory Room: A quiet, calming space designed for students who need a moment of peace and sensory relief.
- Kitchen Facilities: Students have access to a kitchen where they can make food and drinks as needed, supporting independence and life skills. The food technology area is for staff-supported cooking.
- Small meeting rooms: Students can work in small groups - we have no classrooms.
Image: Our sensory room
How to Join
- Book a Visit: Join us on one of our open days or book a one-on-one visit to suit your schedule. We understand that many parents are working, so we can fit around your needs and offer visits at weekends and evenings if needed.
- Join for a Trial Week: To ensure the place is the right fit for your young person, we offer a trial week. This allows your child to experience our environment and approach first-hand.
- Sign Up: We take intakes at the beginning of each term. Once you’re ready to join us, the enrolment process is simple and straightforward.
Book a visit by contacting us at office@smlcollege.org.uk.
Testimonials
“We never knew an alternative option like this was available. Our children couldn’t be happier since attending SMLC as they now have an education that they choose to have, without the overwhelming pressures and demands that mainstream school can present. They are finally excited about learning again in a non stressful and supportive setting. There should be self managed learning schools in every city. This is the future of learning that is so very needed for an ever growing proportion of our incredible children.” – Parent
“Finding SML was a blessing for my son’s life. I saw him “back to life” as a person, respected and validated for how he is, his abilities and potentials, creating his learning based on his judgment, goals and interests. He takes so much care about his study, and seeing how respectful are the conversations he’s having with his learning advisors, is extraordinary. THIS is the education that EVERY single student should deserve.” - Parent
FAQs
Q: Are the sessions aligned with the national curriculum?
A: No, we don't follow the national curriculum, unless students choose to, e.g., if they want support with their GCSEs. Students are free to decide what they want to learn and there are no mandatory subjects or timetables.
Q: What age groups do you cater to?
A: We welcome students aged 9-17. Students are allocated Learning Groups according to their age to ensure sessions are tailored to meet the needs of different age groups.
Q: Is there any support for special educational needs?
A: Yes, we strive to accommodate all learners. Please discuss your child’s specific needs with us so we can provide the best possible support.
Get in Touch
Ready to enhance your home education journey with SML College? Reach out to us for more information or to schedule a visit.
Phone: 01273 987629
Email: office@smlcollege.org.uk