Homeschooling in the Cayman Islands
As the top provider of homeschooling in the Cayman Islands, Chapkin Edwards is well placed to offer advice on the suitability of this pathway for Caymanian families. In many cases, it is the best option for your child’s education, whether it be early years, GCSE, A-Level or IB. Here we explain why it is such a good choice, as well as setting out the legal requirements for homeschooling in the Cayman Islands.
What are the homeschooling options in the Cayman Islands?
Homeschooling is often the best option for students with busy extracurricular schedules, and so flexibility is built into it. The options for homeschooling in the Cayman Islands are as follows:
In-person
Online
Hybrid
Why is homeschooling a good option in the Cayman Islands?
Homeschooling is popular among families in the Cayman Islands for a number of reasons. Principal among these is the lack of school choice. The Cayman Islands has a limited number of private (fee-paying) schools, but many of these are oversubscribed and are, for some students, unable to provide a sufficiently rigorous and challenging education. Those students in Cayman who are particularly aspirational and aim, for example, at a Russell-group university education in the UK, have a better guarantee of success through a well-planned and comprehensive program of homeschooling.
One area that Caymanian schools are not always sufficiently equipped to address is neurodivergence, or Special Educational Needs (SEN). Adaptive teaching requires a strong grounding in pedagogy, as well as a nurturing, supportive learning environment that cannot always be provided in a Caymanian school context. Students with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) can receive tailored and adaptive teaching that helps them to fulfill their academic potential through homeschooling.
Homeschooling also allows for a more flexible approach to education which can situate the student’s learning within the rich cultural and natural context of the Cayman Islands. There are plentiful opportunities for expanding your child’s educational experience, and homeschooled students can take full advantage of them with the greater freedom afforded by their bespoke learning schedule. The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park and Stingray City are just two such examples that can help to bring your child’s enthusiasm and passion for learning to life.
What are the legal requirements for homeschooling in the Cayman Islands?
Homeschooling in the Cayman Islands involves a formal approval process. Parents must apply for and be granted approval by the Department of Education Services (DES) before educating their child at home. This application includes creating an Individualised Home School Plan (IHSP) outlining the curriculum and schedule, and parents are expected to maintain attendance records and submit periodic progress reports. In fact, Cayman’s regulations require families to provide written notice of their intent to homeschool by August 1 of each school year and to submit semi-annual reports on the child’s progress. The DES may also conduct home visits to ensure that the educational program is being properly implemented. Once approved, the homeschool is issued a certificate valid until the end of the academic year, after which the approval process (including notification and documentation) must be renewed annually.
Homeschooling with Chapkin Edwards
No matter your child’s learning needs, Chapkin Edwards is optimally placed to provide a bespoke homeschooling plan to ensure not only academic success, but personal development of a singular quality. With years of experience as the top tuition provider in the Cayman Islands, as well as a team of highly educated tutors trained in the latest pedagogical techniques, we can provide a service to meet all manner of needs. Get in contact here.