If I had a pound for every time someone asked, "But what about socialisation?" I could probably fund this entire startup. There is a myth that home-educated kids sit in a darkened room, cut off from society.
The Opportunity
Ash has found her tribe, but not in a school playground. She’s found them in a local Gaming Club/Shop - a haven of board games, trading cards, and strategy. It’s a place where the rules are clear, the noise is focused, and the passion is shared.
Recently, the owner of Pens & Dragons, offered her an incredible opportunity: To come in once a week and run the "Tuck Shop" for the players. And she said yes.
The Hidden Curriculum
On the surface, she is selling cans of Coke and packets of crisps. But if you look at the Plan-Ed log for these sessions, you’ll see she is actually covering a massive amount of curriculum:
- Applied Maths: She is handling money, calculating change manually, and balancing the float at the end of the shift. No textbook can replicate the pressure of a real customer waiting for their change.
- Business Studies: She is learning about stock rotation, profit margins, and inventory management.
- Social Skills: This is the big one. She is interacting with strangers, taking orders, and making small talk - but she is doing it across a counter. That physical barrier provides a sense of safety that allows her to flourish.
Working Towards Gold
This isn't just "helping out"; we are structuring this as part of a Youth Award Scheme she is working towards. It gives the activity weight and purpose. She isn't just "hanging around a shop"; she is volunteering, gaining work experience, and logging hours for a qualification.
The Verdict
I picked her up last week. She was tired, yes. But she was buzzing. She had served 15 people, made a bunch of Pot Noodles for customers, checked the stock situation, and chatted about Pokémon cards with a customer.
Socialisation doesn't mean being forced into a playground with 300 other kids you have nothing in common with. Sometimes, it means selling snacks to wizards and space marines.
Here's Ash in action at Pens & Dragons!
