Supporting Young People to Manage Their Own Learning - eBook

A Practical Guide for Parents and Other Adults

A different starting point for learning

Most young people are already managing their own learning.

They decide what to focus on, what to ignore and what is worth their time.

The question is not whether they are self-managing - but whether they are supported to do it well.

This guide offers a different starting point.

What’s inside

This guide brings together over 40 years of experience working with young people, families and organisations through Self Managed Learning.

Inside, you’ll explore:

• Why teaching does not equal learning
• What it really means to prepare a young person for a “good life”
• The difference between structure and control
• The Traffic Light model for boundaries and negotiation
• Why the “facts vs skills” debate misses the point
• The many ways young people learn beyond the classroom
• Why working is not the same as learning
• A simple values exercise to support choices around GCSEs, careers and direction

Each chapter includes:

• Reflection questions
• Practical “Try This” exercises
• Real examples drawn from years of experience

Grounded in real experience

Self Managed Learning was developed in the late 1970s and refined over decades in:

• Universities and organisational settings
• Work with schools and home educating families
• A 24-year learning community for young people aged 9–16

This guide is not theoretical.

It comes from lived, tested practice - working directly with young people over many years.

Who it’s for

This guide is for:

• Parents questioning whether school is working for their child
• Families home educating or considering alternatives
• Parents of children who are disengaged, anxious or struggling
• Adults who want to support learning without controlling it
• Educators interested in a more thoughtful approach

What makes this different

Many resources focus on helping young people perform better.

This guide focuses on something deeper:

How a young person learns to take responsibility for their own learning — and ultimately their own life.

It moves beyond study skills and explores:

• Autonomy in community
• Values and decision-making
• Reflection and self-awareness
• Learning that continues beyond formal education

Format

• Digital guide (PDF)
• 60+ pages 
• Structured chapters with reflection questions

Start with the foundation

This is the first guide in the Self Managed Learning series.

It provides the foundation for the practical companion guides:

• Goal-Setting & The Five Questions Template
• 57 Ways to Learn
• Parent & Mentor Guide
• Guidance for Teenagers

Price: £18

A practical, thoughtful guide for those who want to support young people in a more considered way.

If you’re ready to understand learning differently - and support it more effectively - this is where to begin.