For parents who wish to educate their children at home, a range of resources are available.

Many of the providers accredited by ODL QC offer GCSEs and A- or AS-levels by distance learning - details are given in the courses index - whilst WES specialise in supplying nursery, primary and secondary courses for children aged 3-13 years living all over the world.

Two national charities advise and support parents who wish to education their children at home:

• education otherwise, who are at e_o@netlink.co.uk or on their helpline at 0870 7300074, &
  
  
• HEAS, the Home Education Advisory Service, at admin@heas.org.uk or on 01786 831066

Other specialist agencies or associations for Home Educators include:

• Choice in Education is an independent monthly magazine for home educators
  
  
• The Home Educators Seaside Festival claims to be the world's largest gathering of Home Educating families.
  
  
• IHSAN is the Islamic Home Schooling Advisory Network, at ihsaneducation@hotmail.com or on 020 7790 9981
  
  
• Parents Information Network helps parents to understand computers and support their children's learning.

Sites with lots of information, links and advice include:

• The Home Schooling directory on beebware
  
  
• Cavebears has a useful page on Home Education.
  
  
• The Educate Online Home Education pages.
  
  
• HEAS also has a page of useful links on Home Education
  
  
• Sue Fairhead's Home Education in the UK site.

ACE, the Advisory Centre for Education, is "an independent national centre which offers confidential advice, information and support to parents about state educaction for 5-16 year old children, including advice about exclusion from school, bullying, Special Educational Needs, and finding a school place".

ACE can be contacted at ace-ed@easynet.co.uk or on 020 7354 8321. And if your children are at primary school, and you want to know how you can get involved, try the Educate the Children website.