I have mentioned that we decided to use a distance learning provider for the first time this year. I opted to use NEC for my daughter’s A Level subjects and then decided I would also use them for my son’s IGCSE Chemistry. We have never used any distance learning services before so I was a bit unsure. I tried to do a lot of research and I asked lots of questions but I must admit even by the time we signed up I was still a bit unsure of what exactly we were getting.

I am still deciding if I think it is worth the money because I have been a bit disappointed in what we got but I am also not sure if maybe I was expecting too much.

Okay so they give you all the notes that the kids are suppose to need. And the notes do contain questions and they do supply you with answers.

But here are a few things I have not been totally happy with. Firstly I don’t feel like they give you enough questions. For example with my son’s Chemistry he actually came to me and told me he was doing far fewer questions in his Chemistry compared to his Biology and Physics and asked me to start getting him extra material. Now maybe this was my fault but I have assumed that he would be able to do the Chemistry independently without me having to get involved and find extra material for him. I have ended up getting him 2 extra workbooks with Chemistry questions and a subscription to an extra website where he can watch videos and get extra questions. Which is what we are doing for his Biology so it has made me question if doing his Chemistry with NEC is actually a waste of money. At this stage I am not sure, I suppose only time will tell.

With my daughters A Level subjects I have had a mixed reaction. Her Biology and English have been okay but I was not impressed with her first English assignment. They gave her a detailed question to try without having taken the time to walk them through a detailed example of what they would expect. In my mind they should have given the kids an example of what a sample answer for a similar question would look like.

And then the Maths my big shock was the realization that they do not give the kids step by step answers. Which at this level is a joke. How are the kids suppose to figure out where they have done wrong? So I ended up buying her extra student books which contained questions and had step by step answers. I still can’t get over that I have paid for a Maths subject and there are no step by step answers for the questions.

I will admit that I have been impressed by the feedback that she has been given when she has submitted her assignments. They do provide good feedback but I am not sure that just getting good feedback is enough. In my mind if I am paying for this service I would expect a first class set of notes, notes that are clear and well set out with questions and good quality answers so they kids are able to figure out where they have gone wrong.

Like I said it is the first time we have used a distance learning provider for our home education so maybe I was expecting too much. I am still a bit undecided but I am disappointed and I am questioning if I would use them for my son’s A Levels.