Parent Information

Waterfall Valley Education is not a registered school, but a community-based learning project created by families who sought a holistic and flexible approach to education that best benefited their children. We exist to support families who choose to educate their children through home-schooling (ensino doméstico) or individual education (ensino individual), both of which are legal and protected options under Portuguese law.

Through the efforts of dedicated volunteers and facilitators who are directly involved in teaching, organizing, and maintaining the space we are able to make this happen. Everyone contributes to the learning environment, whether through sharing knowledge and talents, leading workshops, or tending to the land and buildings.

What we offer

We offer a schedule, space and environment where children can:

Participate in academics, creative workshops, and nature-based activities,
Learn through hands-on experiences that align with the Portuguese curriculum,
Engage in bilingual learning, combining Portuguese and English,
Grow in confidence, curiosity, and connection with others.

This support is designed to complement each family’s individual educational path and although an alternative to 'Formal' schooling, each child’s legal education status and process remains the responsibility of their family.

Understanding the legal framework

Portugal’s Constitution supports educational freedom and family choice. Specifically:

Article 36 (5) recognizes the right and duty of families to educate their children,
Article 43 protects freedom in teaching and learning.

Families pursuing home-schooling register their child with a public or private school and engage with national evaluations in Year 4, Year 6, and Year 9. More information about this can be found on the Portuguese Ministry of Education government website. Below are some external resources that may help families understand and navigate the legal framework for home-schooling and individual education in Portugal. These links are for informational purposes only:

Ministry of Education – Ensino Doméstico e Individual (DGE)
Official government page outlining the legal requirements and responsibilities.
Own Your Education – Home-schooling in Portugal (Guide)
A helpful guide summarizing the process in parent-friendly language.
HSLDA – Portugal Home-schooling Overview
International legal perspective on home-schooling rights in Portugal.

These resources may support your understanding of registration processes, responsibilities, and helpful terminology when approaching your local school or education authority.

Note: We are not a legal entity, and families remain fully responsible for managing their child’s legal educational status.

What we support

Within our capacity, we work to support formal legal responsibilities. We:

Offer guidance on navigating the home-schooling registration process,
Create a rich learning environment that complements the educational path you choose.
Encourage respectful, open relationships with local education authorities.

While we cannot provide legal advice, we share collective experience and recommend that families stay informed and maintain clear, transparent communication with the institutions they are registered with.

A shared project

What makes this project unique is the deep involvement of the families who participate. Those who join contribute in many ways—teaching, mentoring, cooking, cleaning, building, creating, and caring for the land. This shared responsibility helps create a vibrant, meaningful space for children to grow and learn in closer relationship to their envrionemnt than usual. Waterfall Valley Education is a living collaboration, built on mutual support, a love of learning, and a shared commitment.

Collaboration

We actively collaborate with the wider community through both global and local initiatives. One example is the Kafudu Project, started by our students to support the creation of a school in Mozambique (website link coming soon). Locally, we engage with village life through shared activities, interviews with residents, participation in markets, our own events, and community-led courses. In the coming year, we aim to deepen our collaboration with the local council and expand our relationship with the community here in Espinhal area and beyond.