13 Ways to Make Education Beyond School a Positive Family Experience
- Brainz Magazine
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
Written by Helen Kenworthy, Artistic Director
Helen champions the arts as a tool for change. Now, as CEO of RYTC Creatives CIC and Give Get Go Education, she mentors young people, creates pathways for them to thrive in the arts, and helps launch successful careers.
What if education were not something to be left entirely to schools, but something families could enjoy, shape, and bring to life at home?
For decades, traditional models have positioned schools as the central place where learning happens, with families playing a more supportive or peripheral role. While schools remain essential, many parents are recognising that education does not have to stop at the school gate, and that their involvement can make a powerful difference.
In recent years, families have become increasingly proactive in their children’s educational journeys, supported by shifts in the system itself. More schools are realising the impact of strong family engagement, and frameworks are encouraging collaboration between schools, homes, and communities. Learning flourishes when it is reinforced in everyday spaces, not just classrooms.
Whether driven by special educational needs, wellbeing considerations, flexibility, or a desire for more tailored approaches, more parents are exploring Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) as a genuine and empowering pathway. This growing movement reflects a shared understanding that when families and schools work hand in hand, children benefit in lasting ways.
While stepping away from traditional models can feel daunting at first, it also opens up rich opportunities for growth, connection, and creativity for both children and parents. With the right mindset and practical strategies, education beyond school can become a family-centred experience that celebrates individuality, deepens relationships, and makes learning an enjoyable part of daily life.
The changing landscape of education
Education has continually evolved. Historically, learning often took place at home or within small communities, with families playing a central role in passing down knowledge, skills, and cultural values. As formal schooling expanded during the industrial era, education gradually shifted towards institutions as the main centres of learning, while families took on more supportive roles.
In recent decades, however, a subtle shift has been taking place again. The rise of technology, flexible working patterns, and changing social priorities have opened new possibilities for families to re-engage with their children’s education in meaningful ways.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transformation dramatically. Families suddenly became co-educators, discovering both the challenges and joys of taking a more active role in learning. Many found creative ways to combine formal education with home-based exploration, leading to renewed conversations about the balance between school, home, and community learning.
Today, a growing number of families are choosing to blend traditional schooling with home education, flexible models, or Education Other Than At School (EOTAS). These approaches recognise that learning is most powerful when it is shared, and when families are active partners in shaping their children’s educational journeys.
Why education needs to be emphasised more deeply
Before we can reimagine learning beyond school, it’s important to understand why education itself deserves greater attention, not just in classrooms, but in families and communities too. A shared commitment to learning lays the foundation for children to thrive.
Education is more than grades: It’s about curiosity, creativity, empathy, and resilience, qualities that shape who children become. When families value these elements, learning becomes richer and more personal.
Families and schools share responsibility: Schools can’t meet every need alone. When families play an active role, children experience consistency and feel more supported in their learning.
Every child deserves inclusive support: Some children need flexibility that schools alone can’t always provide. Family involvement ensures that no child is overlooked and that individual strengths are nurtured.
Lifelong learning starts at home: Daily interactions at home spark habits of curiosity and adaptability. These habits stay with children long after they leave formal education.
Education shapes identity: The way children experience learning influences their confidence, self-worth, and sense of possibility. A strong educational foundation helps them see themselves as capable and valued.
It creates stronger communities: When families invest in education, they build a culture of learning that extends beyond the home. This collective commitment strengthens neighbourhoods, networks, and future generations.
It prepares children for a changing world: Knowledge alone isn’t enough, children need to think critically, solve problems, and adapt. A broad, family-supported approach to education helps develop these essential skills.
Emphasising education brings joy back to learning: When learning is shared between home and school, it becomes more meaningful and enjoyable. Children sense that education is part of life, not just something to “get through.”
The key role of families in children’s learning
While schools provide structure and curriculum, families create the emotional, social, and cultural foundations that shape how children learn. Home is often the first and most lasting classroom, a place where curiosity is sparked, values are formed, and confidence begins to grow. When families embrace their role in education, they help children build stronger learning habits and deeper connections that carry into every environment.
Families create emotional safety: Children learn best when they feel secure, supported, and understood. A stable home base gives them the confidence to explore, make mistakes, and grow.
Learning starts with everyday interactions: Simple conversations, shared stories, and daily routines lay the groundwork for literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These moments build a natural love for learning.
Parents model curiosity: When adults show interest in learning, children follow their lead. Exploring ideas together turns education into a shared journey, not a one-way process.
Home provides personalised support: Families can adapt pace, content, and environment to suit each child. This flexibility allows children to learn in ways that work best for them.
Family routines shape learning habits: Regular reading, discussions at meals, or creative time build consistency. These rhythms give learning a natural place in daily life without becoming rigid.
Celebrating growth strengthens confidence: Acknowledging small achievements builds resilience and self-belief. It helps children see effort and progress as something meaningful.
Families connect learning to real life: Linking lessons to home activities, cooking, gardening, and errands shows children how knowledge applies beyond textbooks. This makes learning more relevant and memorable.
Strong family involvement builds long-term motivation: When children sense their families value learning, they feel supported and inspired. This shared commitment fuels curiosity and perseverance over time.
Real-life examples of family learning in action
Morning walk science: Every morning, one family in Warwickshire begins their day with a 20-minute walk. Along the way, they collect leaves, observe insects, and discuss the changing seasons. What started as a way to add calm to the morning routine has turned into a daily science lesson, filled with questions, observations, and shared wonder.
Baking as maths: Another family found a creative way to turn baking sessions into practical maths lessons. Measuring ingredients became an opportunity to explore fractions, ratios, and problem-solving. Over time, their children began experimenting with doubling or halving recipes on their own, building real numeracy skills through everyday activities.
Why learning should go beyond the classroom
Learning isn’t confined to walls or timetables, it happens everywhere. When families embrace this, education becomes more dynamic, personal, and connected to real life. Every day, spaces like kitchens, gardens, libraries, museums, and parks turn into powerful learning environments. Real-world experiences make abstract concepts tangible and memorable, while naturally encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Outside the classroom, families can adapt the pace and approach to suit each child’s rhythms and interests, creating a more flexible and responsive learning experience.
Exploring the world together also blends academic knowledge with practical skills, showing children that learning is part of daily life. This shift supports wellbeing through variety and movement, making learning lighter and more enjoyable. Community spaces and experiences introduce new perspectives and voices, helping children grow in confidence, empathy, and a sense of belonging.
What education beyond school looks like
Education beyond school doesn’t have to be complicated. Families can shape learning around their children’s needs and interests, using flexible routines that bring structure without pressure. A day might begin with a shared walk, reading time, or a creative activity, followed by focused learning, practical projects, or time outdoors. Libraries, community centres, cultural venues, and local parks can all become learning spaces, helping children experience education as something active and alive.
This approach is about making learning personal and practical. Some families let curiosity lead, while others combine structured resources with hands-on experiences like cooking, gardening, or visiting local sites. Progress is often celebrated through conversations, creative work, or portfolios rather than grades alone. These simple, everyday practices show that meaningful education can happen anywhere. As we bring these ideas together, there are clear, tangible ways families can make education beyond school a positive and empowering experience.
13 ways to make education beyond school a positive family experience
Bringing learning into family life doesn’t require elaborate plans or special resources. It’s about small, intentional choices that help children see education as meaningful, enjoyable, and part of everyday living. These practical ideas can help families make learning feel natural, flexible, and deeply connected to real life.
Start the day with calm and connection: A shared walk, breakfast chat, or short reading session sets a positive tone. It helps children ease into the day feeling settled and ready to learn.
Create a flexible daily rhythm: A gentle structure provides security without being restrictive. Anchors like morning reading or afternoon activities give flow to the day.
Use everyday spaces creatively: Kitchens, gardens, libraries, and parks can all become classrooms. This keeps learning varied and connected to real life.
Let curiosity lead: Follow children’s interests to spark deeper engagement. When learning aligns with what excites them, it becomes more meaningful.
Blend academic and practical learning: Cooking becomes maths and science, gardening teaches biology, and outings spark history or geography discussions. This shows children how knowledge applies beyond textbooks.
Build learning into daily routines: Simple habits like reading together, discussing ideas over meals, or reflecting on the day make learning a natural part of family life. These moments build consistency without adding pressure.
Encourage hands-on exploration: Practical projects, from crafts to science experiments that bring ideas to life. They help children understand through doing, not just listening.
Celebrate small wins: Acknowledging progress, no matter how small, builds confidence and motivation. It shifts the focus from perfection to growth.
Connect with the wider community: Workshops, cultural events, and local groups add new perspectives and experiences. These connections enrich learning and build a sense of belonging.
Make space for movement and play: Physical activity and unstructured play are vital parts of learning. They boost focus, creativity, and well-being.
Use conversations as learning tools: Thoughtful chats during walks, car rides, or chores spark critical thinking and reflection. They show children that learning happens everywhere.
Capture progress creatively: Instead of relying on grades, use journals, photos, or portfolios to record learning. This makes growth visible and personal.
Keep learning joyfully: Above all, focus on creating a positive atmosphere. When learning feels enjoyable and shared, it becomes something children carry with them for life.
How the Education Selection Box, RYTC, and Give Get Go Education support families
At Education Selection Box, we help families rediscover the joy of learning through creativity and connection. Our workshops and resources are designed to build confidence, curiosity, and calm, making education feel personal, not pressured. We understand that every child learns differently, which is why our programmes celebrate individuality, encourage self-expression, and nurture emotional wellbeing alongside academic progress.
Our approach is part of something bigger, a belief that creativity and care belong at the heart of every child’s learning journey. Together with RYTC and Give Get Go Education, we form a complete pathway that begins at home and continues into adulthood. From early creative discovery to professional creative careers, our model, Creative Integrated Education, supports growth at every stage.
For children, this means learning through play, imagination, and exploration. For teenagers, it becomes a space to collaborate, lead, and find their voice. For adults, it offers lifelong access to creative learning that fuels confidence, wellbeing, and purpose.
Through Give Get Go Education, learners gain on-demand access to professional training created by multi-award-winning film and theatre makers, helping them turn creative confidence into sustainable, future-ready careers. It is a natural extension of what begins within families, curiosity, courage, and connection transforming into creativity, leadership, and lifelong learning.
At RYTC, creativity meets confidence. We use drama, movement, and storytelling to help children and young people build social skills, emotional awareness, and resilience. Every rehearsal, performance, and workshop is a space for expression, collaboration, and personal growth, supporting mental health and belonging through the arts.
At Education Selection Box, we call our learners The Brilliantly Underestimated, young people and families whose potential shines once they are taught through creativity, not conformity. When we combine art, learning, and wellbeing, we do more than teach, we help people thrive.
Conclusion
Education beyond school is not a rejection of the system, it is a return to what learning has always been. Human, shared, and alive.
When families lead with love and curiosity, they give children the best possible foundation for life, one built on connection, confidence, and creativity. And when schools, families, and communities work together, learning stops being a system and becomes something far more powerful, a way of growing together.
At Education Selection Box, we believe every family can create learning that feels joyful, inclusive, and deeply meaningful. All it takes is a little curiosity and the courage to begin.
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Helen Kenworthy, Artistic Director
Helen Kenworthy’s career embodies the transformative power of the arts, from her early roles in the prestigious West End with Bill Kenwright to her impactful work in regional theatre. As manager of the Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership, she created pathways for young people to thrive in the arts, with many going on to successful careers. Now at RYTC Creatives CIC and Give Get Go Education, Helen continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of theatre-makers and community leaders, offering invaluable opportunities for growth and professional development.
