Vikki
Mum
I’m the primary voice behind Learning by Hart. My journey as a home-educating parent began during a period of profound health challenges, which forced me to re-evaluate everything about how we were living as a family. With a background in healthcare (NHS) and extensive self-education in nutrition, yoga, mindfulness, and wellbeing, I aim to bring a holistic perspective to both health and learning.
I hold master’s degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels from two different British universities, giving me first-hand insight into the academic system in the UK as a high-achieving student. Reflecting on my own life experiences—how academia both served me and held me back—and using this lens to observe how the school system shaped our children’s behaviours over the short time they attended has given me a unique perspective. I am driven to write about these reflections and share our experiences because of a strongly held belief that children’s wellbeing must always come before conventional expectations. I aim to provide observations that are unflinchingly honest about the challenges of home education, the conditioning we all carry about what learning “should” look like, and the daily work of trying to live in alignment with your values.
These days, you’ll find me writing, experimenting with new whole-food recipes with the kids, growing sprouts, practising yoga, or exploring the world as we travel together as a family. We are currently enjoying the freedom, vitality, and continual new perspectives that come from a nomadic lifestyle. If you like what we are doing, I would love to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Vikki
Jimmy
Dad
I am the steady, practical force that helps to make our unconventional life possible. My background is in IT, having taught myself enough technical and business skills to run a successful IT support business and co-working space, which we recently sold to commit fully to this new lifestyle. Through this, I bring a fresh perspective to our family’s home education journey, keeping abreast of the economic and political climate and predicting how this is likely to impact the future work landscape. My more recent technical experience using AI models to drive work efficiencies has given me a deep understanding of the vast benefits, but also many pitfalls, providing insight into the impact of these models on the future world our children will be growing up in. I share Vikki’s stubborn determination and belief that we cannot sit back and assume the government will keep abreast of this rapidly changing environment and effect change in schools quickly enough to ensure our children are effectively prepared.
When I am not managing the technical side of our nomadic lifestyle or role-modelling what focused, meaningful work looks like, you’ll find me in the kitchen cooking curries and making bread. I love trying new foods and learning languages, and this new way of life is allowing me to share this passion with the kids. When I’m not working or exploring with the family, you may find me tinkering on GarageBand or playing a game of chess.
Through supporting Vikki in this work, I want to challenge the outdated stigmas in this world and celebrate life as a home-educating dad. By shifting our focus and energy, we have been able to create a home environment that shares equal opportunities for us both to work, cook, clean, and share childcare responsibilities. This is for the benefit of us all.
Jimmy