8 July 2025
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Our second Library Chapters session took place on July 8, 2025, welcoming families curious about beginning their homeschooling journey. The topic, Exploring Homeschooling, brought together those seeking practical guidance, honest perspectives, and a clearer vision of what homeschooling could look like for their families.
Hosted by Sabrina Salleh Quek, a homeschooling mother of four, and facilitated by Grace Tan, the session addressed the most pressing questions from explorers—from managing multiple children to navigating costs, curriculum choices, and the Compulsory Education Exemption application process.
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About Sabrina Salleh Quek Sabrina has 4 children (the oldest is in polytechnic) whom she homeschooled. She has a breadth of experience in caregiving, teaching preschoolers, and nurturing families.
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About Grace Tan A mother to 3 girls, Grace loves books and the Charlotte Mason style of homeschooling. Trained in architecture, she still loves it, and art and design. Her heart is for homeschooling parents to grow and be confident in educating their children.
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Series Partnership: HSSG and Homeschool Consultation
The session was part of the Library Chapters launch series in July 2025, where Homeschooling Singapore (HSSG) reached out to the homeschool consultation team to collaborate. Sabrina briefly shared how the consultants started out with the aim to provide support for families exploring homeschooling. While mentoring may arise organically within the community through WhatsApp circles, local co-ops, or various information sessions, some families need more specialised, dedicated support. Consultancy services, on the other hand, offer bespoke, hands-on support for novice homeschoolers—including help with the Compulsory Education Exemption (CCE) application. Topics are anchored by subject-matter experts. For example, among the homeschool consultants, Sabrina focuses on early childhood, while Apple Teoh specialises in neurodivergence.
Sabrina’s Open Book: Philosophy in Practice
Sabrina warmed up the session by sharing her personal “why” behind homeschooling. Her decision grew from a belief that family is the most important institution in a child’s life—a stable base from which they can explore, grow, and become themselves.
“Family is a child’s base and stability.” – Sabrina
Key Insights:
- The Role of the Mother as Primary Caregiver: Sabrina sees homeschooling as a natural extension of nurturing and guiding her children through their formative years.
- Values-Centred Education: She wanted to educate her children based on her family’s values and customise learning to each child’s needs, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Educating the Whole Child: Life skills matter. In Sabrina’s home, chores are non-negotiable (except during major exams) because she believes day-to-day practical skills are as important as academic preparation.
Sabrina’s Philosophy:
Sabrina began researching homeschooling as an alternative to full-day schooling, wanting her children to have their family as their foundation. Over time, she found her calling in helping others kick-start their own homeschooling journeys. As her confidence grew, she joined a group of fellow homeschooling mothers to offer consultancy services, responding to the growing volume of inquiries from homeschool explorers.
Grace’s Open Book: The Socialisation Question
Grace addressed one of the most common concerns prospective homeschoolers raise: will my child make friends? Grace reassured the group that children make friends easily, though some may be more selective depending on their personality. Her own children are home-loving, balancing dedicated independent play with self-directed work.
“You’ll notice that the younger your children are, you’ll want to keep going out—to minimise mess at home and to feel invigorated with friends.” – Grace
Q&A
Question #1: Homeschooling Multiple Children
A participant asked how to homeschool children across various age groups.
Sabrina’s Strategy: Manage the Youngest First
Sabrina prioritises meeting the needs of her youngest child first, as younger children often require more hands-on support and emotional reassurance.
- Provide manipulatives and ensure the youngest is engaged in play.
- Routine care comes first.
- Assign work or worksheets to older children to complete independently while tending to the youngest.
Question #2: Estimated Costs
Families wanted to understand the financial commitment involved in homeschooling.
“Homeschooling expenditures are highly dependent on spending power and family values.” – Sabrina
- Tuition: There are strategies for exam preparation that require minimal tuition. Budgeting is possible.
- Curriculum: Montessori resources alone can cost $2,000 and above. Free resources include MEP Math for lesson plans and worksheets. Other options include Geniebook, KooBits, and Khan Academy.
- Edusave Reimbursement: The Edusave account can reimburse enrichment classes, including music, arts, and sports. Unused funds roll into the Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA), which can pay for polytechnic or university classes.
Question #3: Designing a Homeschooling Pathway
A parent asked for guidance on choosing and planning curriculum pathways.
“Curriculum pathways are unique because every child has unique strengths and dispositions.” – Sabrina
Sabrina’s Eclectic Model draws from multiple philosophies and approaches:
- Montessori: A concrete way of exploring phonics, math, and more.
- Charlotte Mason: More of an approach; a way of life.
- Classical Conversations: Once a week, 3 to 4 hours, with a regular group of friends.
- Five in a Row: A literacy-focused approach.
Principle: Know Your Children’s Disposition
Sabrina’s older two children are academically inclined, while her younger two are more artistic—requiring different approaches for each.
- For her younger two: Hands-on learning with concrete manipulatives and visual adaptations (Montessori). Museum hopping and borrowing Montessori resources from friends.
- For her older two: Greater latitude for independent focus and self-teaching (including learning piano from YouTube). From Primary 3 onwards, more seatwork using MOE syllabi and Primary 4 assessment books.
Perspectives on PSLE
“Only in Singapore are children taking major exams at 12 years old. The norm across the globe is to sit for major exams only at 16 and/or 18 years old.” – Sabrina
For homeschoolers, the criteria for passing PSLE is qualifying for Posting Group 3 (PG3), which allows them to continue homeschooling during secondary school years. Sabrina approaches the PSLE lightly—homeschoolers often meet together at Primary 6 to go through prelims as a group.
“At one point, we have to decide how much we want to cover for PSLE preparations—and how much leisure time for other pursuits.” – Sabrina
The beauty of homeschooling lies in giving children space and time for self-directed learning, passion projects, and exploring their interests—whether that’s learning history through living books or independently picking up crocheting.
“You are the architect to design your own pathway based on your family values.” – Sabrina
Question #4: What Happens If the Homeschooling Parent Falls Sick?
A participant asked what happens when the homeschooling parent falls ill.
Sabrina acknowledged that the answer depends on the severity of the illness. Families navigating serious challenges—including cancer—have been known to adapt when they manage expectations and maximise opportunities available to them.
“Mom and child/ren need a break too. The MOE curriculum calendar does not fall on all 365 days in a year.” – Grace
Question #5: Making the Transition from Full-Time Working Mum to Homeschooling
A mother asked about the experience of transitioning from full-time work into homeschooling, and what to expect for children who previously attended school.
Grace’s Guidance on Transition:
- Expect a teething phase: A season of “de-schooling” allows the family to relearn its mindset and habits together.
- Plan realistic day-to-day routines.
- Give it time: It takes about a month to adjust to a new plan. Both you and your children will need time to find your rhythm.
Question #6: Applying for CCE Without an Education Background
A parent asked about applying for the Compulsory Education Exemption without an education-related diploma or degree.
Sabrina’s Assurance: The appeal is possible—Sabrina has done it herself.
- State your desire to homeschool and request official documents.
- Substantiate your request by preparing official forms documenting your plans.
- Hold your ground to challenges—advocate for your child.
Other questions touched on lightly included: the process of taking a child out of mainstream schools, how homeschooling differs from mainstream schooling, and the CCE application process in general.
Shared Takeaways
Both Sabrina and Grace emphasised that homeschooling is a deeply personal and adaptable journey. Some common threads from their stories:
- Homeschooling is about customising education to fit your child and your family values.
- Flexibility is one of the greatest gifts homeschooling offers—in schedule, curriculum, and learning style.
- Resources and support systems are available, from consultants to co-ops to organic community connections.
- You do not need to have it all figured out at once. Give yourself and your children grace as you find your rhythm.
“You are the architect to design your own pathway based on your family values.” – Sabrina
Closing Reflection
This Living Chapters session powerfully illustrated that homeschooling is not a one-size-fits-all path. It is a journey of intentional design, where families become the architects of their children’s education—grounded in love, values, and a deep understanding of each child’s unique needs.
By sharing their stories, Sabrina and Grace gifted the community with practical wisdom, honest perspectives, and the encouragement to take that first step with confidence.
Want to Join Future Library Chapters?
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