Resources for the Christian Home Educator
Home educating families will from time to time, however, wish to purchase textbooks, reading books, basic items of equipment or even complete curricular packages. This web page focuses on non-internet paper based resources. A companion page, looking at internet-based resources is currently in preparation.
Table of Contents
There are a number of suppliers who specialise in educational equipment and resources. I have tried to include all the major suppliers:
Dryad Specialist Crafts Ltd, extensive range of craft
materials. Address is, PO Box 247, Leicester, LE1 9QS, Tel
0116-251-0405, Fax 0116-251-5015.
Galt Educational, specialise in art and craft
materials, games and early learning aids. Address is, Culvert
Street, Oldham, OL4 2ST, Tel. 0161-627-0795, Fax.
0161-627-1543.
Griffin and George,specialists in scientific and
electrical equipment. Comprehensive catalogue, though not
necessarily at the cheapest prices. Address is Bishop Meadow Road,
Loughborough, LE11 0RG, Tel. 01509-233344, Fax 01509-231893.
Hope Education Ltd, wide range of educational
resources. A 10% discount, off catalogue prices, is given if you
visit the showroom. Showroom address is Orb Mill, Huddersfield
Road, Waterhead, Oldham. Correspondence address is St Philip's
Drive, Royton, Oldham, OL2 6AG Tel. 0161-633-6611, Fax
0161-633-3431.
Locktronics Ltd,as a rule I have not included
specialised educational equipment suppliers, simply because there
are so many to choose from. However, I came across Locktronics at
the 1993 Education Show at the NEC. Locktronics makes superb kits
to help in the teaching of electricity and electronics. Kits range
from primary right up to A level. Address is, Unit 11, Chancellors
Pound, Redhill, Bristol, BS18 7TZ,. Tel. 01934-863560, Fax.
01934-863561.
NES Arnold, supply a similar range to Hope. Their address is, 17 Ludlow Hill
Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6HD, Tel. 0115-945-2200, Fax
0115-945-2325.
Philip Harris Education, similar range to Griffin
& George. Address is, Lynn Lane, Shenstone, Lichfield,
Staffordshire, WS14 0EE, Tel. 01543-480077, Fax 01543-480068.
Philip & Tacey Ltd, specialise in games, rubber stamps, sticky stamps, etc to teach phonics. They also supply the famous unifix cubes for maths teaching. Their address is, Walworth Industrial Estate, North Way, Andover, Hants, SP10 5BA, Tel. 01264-332171 Fax 01264-332226.
The term `curriculum package' is used to describe
the sort of service which is available from a small number of
suppliers in the UK. This service includes the provision of books,
assessment, and some sort of support.
As far as I am aware, only two organisations offer
a complete package of this sort in the UK
Christian Education Europe, PO Box 770, Highworth,
Swindon, SN6 7TU. Tel. 01793-826988. CEE's package is based around
the ACE programme of workbooks. These workbooks cover five basic
areas, Maths, English, Word Building, Science and Social Studies.
There are a wide range of extension studies.
Worldwide Education Service (WES). St George's House, 14-17 Wells
Street, London, W1P 3FP. Tel 0171-637-2644. While WES grew out of
the work of Charlotte Mason earlier in the century, it is not
ostensibly a Christian curriculum. They make use of UK school
textbooks, and provide detailed guidance on teaching methods.
Correspondence Colleges and Open Learning Centres
Correspondence Colleges and Open Learning Centres
offer a range of courses aimed mainly at secondary age children
and adults. The range of courses and subjects offered is immense,
ranging from Accountancy and Aviation to Zoo Animal Management!
All of the institutions listed below offer GCSE and A level
courses, by correspondence. There are other Colleges around the
country, but all of the colleges listed below are members of the
Council for the Accreditation of Correspondence Colleges.
Mercers College, Ware, Herts, SG12 9BU. Tel.
01920-465927, Fax. 01920-484909.
National Extension College, 18 Brooklands Avenue,
Cambridge, CB2 2HN. Tel. 01223-316644, Fax. 01223-313586.
The Open Learning Centre, 24 King Street, Carmarthen,
Dyfed, SA31 1BS. Tel. 01267-235268, Fax. 01267-238179.
Oxford Open Learning, 43a Botley Road, Oxford, OX2 0BN, Tel. 01865-798022.
The Rapid Results College, Tuition House, 27/37 St
George's Road, London, SW19 4DS. Tel. 0181-947-2211, Fax. 0181-946-7584.
There are many educational publishers working
within the UK. It is only possible to mention a relatively small
number of them here. If you find that I have omitted a publisher
whose material you have found valuable, please contact me at the
Home Service. We will then include it in the next edition.
In the main, the publishers listed below do not
publish christian textbooks. Lion Publishing is the main exception
to this however, a few of the other publishers do have religious
book departments.
Cambridge University Press, The Edinburgh Building, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 1BR, Tel. 01223-325970, Fax 01223-325959.
Collins Educationa,l (part of the Harper-Collins group) Collins Educational, HarperCollins
Publisher, FREEPOST, Glasgow, G4 0YX, Tel. 0141-772-3200, Fax 0141-306-3119.
Dorling Kindersley Family Library, produce a huge range of mainly non-fiction books, videos and CD-ROMs. There are many local distributors around the country.
Ginn and Co. Ltd, Prebendal House, Parson's Fee,
Aylesbury, HP20 2QZ, Tel. 01296-88411, Fax 01296-25487.
Heinemann Educational, Freepost, PO Box 380,
Oxford, OX2 8BR, Tel 01865-314333, Fax 01865-314091.
Hodder, Mill Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2YA, Tel 01732-450111,
Fax 01732-461321.
Lion Publishing, Peter's Way, Sandy Lane
West, Oxford, OX4 5HG, Tel. 01865-747550, Fax. 01865-747568.
Longmans Education, Longman House, Burns Mill,
Harlow, Essex, CM20 1BR, Tel. 01279-623921, Fax 01279-414130.
Thomas Nelson & Sons, (including MacMillan) Nelson House, Mayfield Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 5PL, Tel. 01932-252211, Fax 01932-246109.
Oxford University Press, Education Department, Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, Tel. 01865-56767, Fax 01536-746337.
Schofield & Sims Ltd, Dogley Mill, Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield, HD8 0NW, Tel. 01484-607080, Fax 01484-606815.
Stanley Thornes (Publishers) Ltd, Ellenborough House, Wellington Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1YD, Tel. 01242-228888, Fax 01242-221914.
Usborne Publishing Ltd, Usborne House, 83/85 Safron Hill, London, EC1N 8RT, Tel. 0171-430-2800, Fax 0171-430-1562.
Wayland, 61 Western Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1JD, Tel. 01273-722561, Fax. 01273-723526
Return to Table of Contents
This is only a small example of the range of publishers currently working in the USA. For a more complete list, please look at Mary Pride's The Big Book of Home Learning, and The NEW Big Book of Home Learning, which are available from Transplant. Also, look at The Teaching Home, a bi-monthly magazine for Christian home educators.
A Beka Book Home School, Pensacola, Florida, 32523-9160, USA. Tel 00-1-904-478-8933. Publish a textbook based curriculum.
Alpha Omega Publications, 300 North McKerny Avenue, Chandler, Arizona, 85226-2618, USA, Tel 00-1-800-622-3070. Produce a curriculum based upon workbooks.
Bob Jones University Press, Greenville, South Carolina, 29614-0001, USA, Tel 00-1-803-242-5100 Ext 3300. Curriculum based upon textbooks.
Calvert School, Tuscany Road, Baltimore, Maryland, 21210, USA, Tel. 00-1-301-243-6030. Not a Christian organisation, but it's curriculum is very sympathetic towards a Christian world view. Calvert provides a full curriculum package, even down to the pens and paper!
Christ-Centred Curriculum, Intended for 4-6 year olds. Mary Pride has actually said, "This may be the most serious attempt yet at a truly Christ-centred pre-school and foundational school programme." It is available in the UK from Home Life Ministries.
Konos, PO Box 1534, Richardson, Texas, 75083, USA, Tel 00-1-214-669-8337. Project based curriculum.
Rod and Staff Publishers Inc., Highway 172, Crockett, Kentucky, 41413-0003, USA, Tel 00-1-606-522-4348. Mennonite publishers of textbooks, workbooks and teacher's materials.
The Weaver Curriculum, 2752 Scarborough, Riverside, California, 92503, USA, Tel 00-1-909-688-3126. Project based curriculum.
In addition to contacting these suppliers directly, readers might like to approach US retailers. I mention two US book suppliers at this point, although I suspect that there are many others. If you have a credit card, you can buy materials from them, with little difficulty. Their ranges are very BIG, and they are often cheaper than the publishers!
1. Great Christian Books, 229 South Bridge Street, PO Box 8000, Elkton, Maryland, 21922-8000, USA, Tel 00-1-410-392-0930.
2. Christian Book Distributors, Box 3687, Peabody, Mass., 01961-7000, USA, Tel 00-1-508-977-5000.
A number of support organisations exist. Some are specifically local in their concern, others have a national interest.
Cedar Educational Trust it is difficult to know exactly where to place Cedar, since it's work covers so many areas but it includes support for home educators, production of curriculum material and guides for parents who want to consider seriously the Biblical teaching on parenthood. The contact address is, 5-7 Stafford Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 8NL.
The Home Service, - a national support organisation, specifically for Christians. The contact address is, The Hawthorns, 48 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, SK4 4NX. Tel 061-432-3782 The Home Service has a mailing list of contacts. It has established the first national UK telephone support service for Christian home educators. It also jointly sponsored Home Ed'93, a national weekend conference specifically for Christians.
The Christian Home-Schools Contact List - has organised a number of successful day conferences, and produces Home Time, the first UK newsletter for christian home educators. Contact address is 234B Cricklewood Lane, London, NW2 2PU.
Kids Abroad- address is Kenilworth Baptist Church, 2 Spring Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2HB, Tel. 01926-52117. Kid's Abroad is run by Tracey Williams, and is focused on supporting missionary families who wish to educate their own children. Tracey works closely with Home Service.
The Home Education Advisory Service - address is 5 Elm Gardens, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6RX. Hotline 9am-10am 01707-335825. HEAS is an organisation which gives information and advice on home education. Quarterly bulletins; registration card for free/reduced rate access to certain museums. Information pack available at cost of £3.
Education Otherwise - address general enquiries to PO Box 7420, London, N9 9SG. EO was the first home education support organisation to be set up. It has members from just about every religious position imaginable. It is not a christian organisation. Many Christians are members, many others are not
SHARE - Services, Helps, and Alternative Resources in Education - although not based in the UK, in fact their headquarters is in Budapest, a number of British missionary families are supported by SHARE. SHARE's calling is to support missionary families in Eastern Europe and beyond, who teach their children at home. Address is 2049 Diosd, Ifjusag u 11, Hungary. Tel. 3623 381-951, Fax 3623-381-553, Compuserve, 100263,723. SHARE works very closely with Tracey Williams of Kid's Abroad.
The number of organisations able to supply Christian home educators in the UK has grown appreciably over the last year. Some of these suppliers specialise in importing resources from the USA.
Cedar Educational Trust, please refer to note in the previous section.
Creation Resources Trust, offers various books and videos (for hire). Contact address is Mead Farm, Downhead, West Camel, Yeovil, BA22 7RQ. Tel. 01935-850569.
Christian Education Europe, offer a range of materials in addition to the ACE products. These include creation materials and some computer software. See entry under Curriculum Packages for address.
Home Life Ministries, distributes a range of American resources and some excellent audio tapes arguing the case for Christian home education. Run by Morris Hull, 59 Upwood Road, Bury, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE17 1PA. Tel. 01487 813028.
Ruth Davies, distributes Alpha Omega curriculum products. Contact address is 12 St Tysoi Close, Llansoy, Usk, Gwent. Tel. 01291-650636
Transplant Christian Educational Aids, established and run by Tracy van den Broek. Tracy offers a service to the Christian home educating community, in that she imports and sells some of the best US materials. Tracy's prices are very reasonable. Contact address is Otterhill Farm, Rowtown, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 1HD. Tel. 01932-855918.
There are a number of periodicals available in the UK aimed at the Christian family. I have not listed those which are avilable from Christian bookshops both of those listed below are only available by subscription. I have also included one American magazine. All three are committed to supporting home educators.
Family Matters, is a quarterly magazine, available from 9 Flambards Close, Meldreth, Royston, Herts, SG8 6JX.
Home Time, published twice a year, available from 234B Cricklewood Lane, London, NW2 2PU. Available free to Home Service members.
The Teaching Home, bi-monthly, available from PO Box 20219, Portland, Oregon, 97220, USA, Tel 00-1-503-253-9633, Fax 00-1-503-253-7345.
Inevitably, this is a very subjective list of books. Please forgive me if I have omitted your favourite book. I have only mentioned books which are easily available within the UK. I should add that I do not necessarily endorse everything these writers say!
A Survivor's Guide to Home Schooling by Luanne Shackelford and Susan White.
For the Children's Sake by Susan Macauley. Tthis book is now out of print in the UK, but is available from the L'Abri Bookshop, The Manor House, Liss, Hampshire.
Home Education by Steve Richards; this leaflet, published by CARE is a good introduction to the subject. (Even if I say so myself!) Obtainable from CARE for Education, 53 Romney Street, London, SW1P 3RF.
Schoolproof by Mary Pride.
Successful Home Schooling by Richard Fugate.
The Christian Home School by Gregg Harris.
Towards a Christ Centred Educationby Steve Sherwood, available from the Cedar Education Trust, (see above)
What is a Family by Edith Schaeffer published by Highway Books.
What the Bible Says About Child Training, by Richard Fugate.
All Books, unless stated otherwise, are obtainable from Transplant Christian Educational Aids.
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