Why Home Educators Choose STEM Workshops
Home education gives families extraordinary freedom over what, when, and how children learn. But some subjects benefit enormously from specialist equipment and collaborative, hands-on experiences that are difficult to replicate at the kitchen table.
STEM is one of those subjects. Programming a robot, building and testing a bridge, operating a 3D printer, or launching a drone requires kit that most families simply do not have at home. Our workshops solve that problem by bringing professional-grade equipment directly to your group.
Access to Specialist Equipment
Every workshop includes all the technology and materials needed. Depending on the session, that might include programmable robots, laptops pre-loaded with coding software, 3D printers, electronics kits, drones, or stop-motion animation stations. There is nothing for families to buy, borrow, or set up in advance.
Socialisation and Collaborative Learning
STEM workshops are naturally collaborative. Children work in pairs and small teams to solve problems, debug code, and build projects together. For home educated children, these sessions provide meaningful peer interaction centred around a shared challenge, not just free play. Many home ed groups tell us that workshop days are among the highlights of their calendar.
Expert-Led, Hands-On Learning
Our instructors are STEM specialists who work with children every day. They know how to pitch content for different ages, manage mixed-ability groups, and keep sessions practical and engaging. Every child gets hands-on time with the equipment, not just a demonstration.
How It Works for Home Education Groups
We have worked with dozens of home education groups and understand that organising a session looks quite different from a school booking. Here is how it typically works.
Groups Can Combine
Our standard minimum group size is 15 children. If your group is smaller, you can combine with another local home ed group to reach the minimum. Many groups in the same area coordinate termly workshop days together, which also keeps the per-child cost down. If you are not sure how to find other groups nearby, get in touch and we can help.
Flexible Venue Options
We do not need a school. Any indoor space with tables, chairs, and power sockets will work. Community halls, church halls, village halls, scout huts, and leisure centre meeting rooms are all popular choices. For smaller groups, a large living room or garage conversion can work if there is enough table space. We will advise on suitability when you enquire.
All Equipment Provided
We arrive with everything needed for the session, set up before the children arrive, and pack away afterwards. There is nothing for the organiser to source, prepare, or clear up. All you need to arrange is the venue and the children.
Flexible Timing
Unlike school bookings, which are tied to the school day, home education sessions can run at whatever time suits your group. Morning, afternoon, or a full day split across two workshops. We work around your schedule, not the other way around.
Curriculum Alignment
Home educators in England are not legally required to follow the National Curriculum. We know that. But many families find curriculum mapping useful for three reasons:
- Structure: It provides a clear framework for what to cover and when, especially in technical subjects like computing and science where progression matters.
- Record-keeping: If your local authority asks about your educational provision, being able to reference specific curriculum objectives covered in a workshop is straightforward evidence.
- Transition: If a child moves into or back into school at any point, curriculum-aligned learning makes the transition smoother.
Every Hyett Education workshop is mapped to National Curriculum objectives across computing, science, design and technology, and mathematics. After each session, we can provide a summary of the objectives covered, which is useful for your records regardless of whether you follow the curriculum formally.
Workshops for Different Ages
We run workshops for children from Early Years Foundation Stage right through to Key Stage 5. Here is a guide to what is available at each stage.
EYFS and Key Stage 1 (Ages 3-7)
Introductory sessions focused on cause and effect, simple programming with floor robots, and hands-on building challenges. These sessions are highly practical and play-based, with lots of movement and exploration. Our Early Engineers workshop is particularly popular with younger home ed groups.
Key Stage 2 (Ages 7-11)
This is where the range of workshops really opens up. Children can explore robotics, block-based coding, 3D design and printing, stop-motion animation, cybersecurity, and more. Sessions build on computational thinking and problem-solving skills. Popular choices include Beginner STEMbotics, 3D Design & Printing, and Cybersecurity & Cryptography.
Key Stage 3 and 4 (Ages 11-16)
More advanced sessions covering text-based programming, AI and machine learning, advanced robotics, and drone technology. These workshops challenge older students and connect to GCSE content for those following that path. The AI & Machine Learning and Intermediate STEMbotics workshops are strong options.
Key Stage 5 (Ages 16-18)
Specialist sessions suitable for older teens, often connecting to A-level content or preparing for STEM careers and apprenticeships. These are available on request for larger groups.
Mixed-Age Groups
Mixed-age groups are the norm in home education, and we are set up for it. Most of our workshops span two or three key stages, and our instructors differentiate activities within the session so that younger children are supported while older children are extended. For groups with a very wide age range, we recommend splitting into two back-to-back sessions pitched at different levels.
Booking Your Workshop
Minimum Group Sizes
The standard minimum is 15 children. This keeps the per-child cost manageable and ensures enough interaction for collaborative activities. If your group is smaller, combining with another local group is the simplest solution. We are happy to help facilitate this.
Pricing
Workshop pricing depends on the session chosen, group size, and your location. Home education groups typically divide the total cost between families, which usually works out at a fraction of what a family might spend on a day out. For an exact price, use our instant quote tool to get a figure in seconds, or contact us to discuss your requirements.
Venue Considerations
The venue needs to have enough table and chair space for the group, access to power sockets for our equipment, and ideally be on the ground floor for ease of loading in. Most community venues work well. If you are unsure whether your space is suitable, send us a photo or the venue details and we will let you know.
How to Book
Booking is straightforward. Browse our full range of workshops, use the instant quote tool for pricing, and then get in touch to confirm your date and details. We will handle everything from there.