About Heidi Steel
A Living, Breathing Unschooling Parent
Hi there, I’m Heidi Steel, and I’m not just an unschooling advocate—I’m living it every day. I live with my husband and our four children in South East England, where we’ve been navigating the rollercoaster of unschooling life for over a decade.
My Journey: From Classroom to Unschooling
Before I became an unschooling parent, I spent over ten years as a primary school teacher in the UK. I worked in more than 25 schools, teaching over 1,000 children. But despite my passion for education, I couldn’t ignore the growing disillusionment I felt with the mainstream school.
The more I learned about child development, neuroscience, and the impact of structured schooling, the more I knew I didn’t want that for my own children.
As an Early Years Practitioner, I already valued a child’s natural ability to learn through play. When I discovered unschooling, it felt like the perfect fit for our family.
But even with my background and confidence, the journey was a wild ride!
Unschooling challenged me to unlearn so much of what we thought I knew about education and embrace a new way of living.
Embracing Neurodivergence
One of the most important aspects of our unschooling journey has been embracing neurodivergence.
Our family, like many others, includes neurodivergent members, and unschooling has allowed us to honor and nurture those differences in ways that traditional schooling never could.
I’m passionate about helping other families understand that unschooling isn’t about academics—it’s about creating a life where every child can thrive, exactly as they are.
Why I’m Here
to Help
I created LivePlayLearn and the Unschooling Village Hub to support other families on their unschooling journey, no matter where you’re starting from.
I understand the fears, the doubts, and the sheer overwhelm that can come with choosing this path. But I also know the incredible freedom, joy, and connection that unschooling can bring. I’m here to help you navigate this journey with confidence, so you can focus on living a life that truly works for your family.
Let’s Connect
Whether you’re just starting out or looking for ways to deepen your unschooling practice, I’m here to help. Reach out via email at heidi@liveplaylearn.org—I’d love to hear from you!
