Citizenship - Parents Page
Why Include Citizenship In Home Schooling
UNESCO (a group that supports education around the world) says that the challenge of citizenship education is how to connect local and global ideas — how to bring together what matters to individuals, communities, countries, and the world.
They believe this can be done by teaching about human rights — the basic rights and freedoms that everyone should have.
Teaching human rights helps open new ways to learn about peace, fairness, and democracy.
Citizenship education helps people understand their role both as individuals and as citizens. It helps students learn about world peace, and the global problems we face, such as those affecting the environment, culture, and the economy.
Because the future of people and the planet depends on good education, it’s important that citizenship education is seen as an essential part of homeschooling
How to Record the Learning
For our learners on the Autistic Spectrum, it’s important to know what to expect as they become more independent. They should understand what kind of help they can ask for from a Social Worker, and what support they can expect from Support Workers or Service Providers.
They also need to learn how to keep themselves safe from people who might not have good intentions. If they get a job, they should know about the reasonable adjustments that employers must make by law to help them work comfortably and fairly.
For our Dyslexic learners, school may have shown how hard parents sometimes have to work to make sure their child gets the right help and resources. In the workplace, employers must also make reasonable adjustments for people with dyslexia.
It’s very important to know your rights and to feel confident asking for the support you need.
Following A Set Citizenship Programme of Learning
Because our learners are home-schooled, we don’t have to follow the National Curriculum. If a topic really interests you, you are encouraged to explore it fully.
A democracy needs people who are active, informed, and responsible. Citizens should be ready to take care of themselves, help others, and take part in how their country is run.
Good citizens:
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Know their rights and responsibilities
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Understand how politics and government work
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Care about other people and groups like Young Carers
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Can share their opinions in a respectful way
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Try to make a difference in the world
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Get involved in their local community
These skills don’t just appear on their own — they need to be learned. While you can pick up some of them at home or through daily life, learning about citizenship helps you understand how to be part of your wider community and take responsibility in it.
Citizenship topics are:
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Real: They affect people’s everyday lives
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Current: They deal with what’s happening now
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Sometimes personal: They can be sensitive, especially if they involve family or friends
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Often debated: People may strongly disagree about them (for example, how to stop online bullying)
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Moral: They make us think about what is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair in society.
Including Citizenship In To The Learning Routine
At Orchard Training, we include citizenship in our projects wherever it fits naturally and can be fun to learn about. For example, in our project on British Waterways, we explore why people need Fishing Rod Licences.
We try to use our projects to teach about lawful behaviour and the rights and responsibilities that everyone has. As an NVQ Assessor, I have supported apprentices who were treated unfairly by their employers or placed in unsafe situations.
I believe it’s important for young people to know their rights and to learn how to speak up for themselves in the right way.
You don’t need any special or expensive equipment to learn about citizenship. Each project includes a list of what you’ll need and ideas for places to visit. The activities are designed to suit a home-school budget.
