NADIA SAWALHA
PROUD OF HER HOME-EDUCATED GIRLS TELLS HOW A BOLD FAMILY CHOICE HAS BROUGHT TOP RESULTS
Nadia and her daughters Maddie, now 14, and Kiki, nine. The TV presenter and her husband, producer Mark Adderley, decided to educate their girls at home when they became distressed in the school system. Both have blossomed under the new approach, which focuses on their interests rather than constant exams
MADDIE’S DRESS: H&M. SOCKS: TOPSHOP. NADIA’S VEST TOP: ZARA. JUMPER: MONSOON. TROUSERS: MARKS & SPENCER. KIKI’S DRESS: GAP. LEGGINGS: H&M
Standing beside the stunning watercolours of two graceful figures silhouetted against a dramatic African sunset, TV presenter Nadia Sawalha beams with maternal pride.
“My girls used to believe they would never be able to paint like that,” she smiles, giving an affectionate hug to the highly talented young artists, her daughters Maddie, 14, and nineyear- old Kiki-Bee.
“They struggled in class and really thought they wouldn’t excel at anything. But ever since I took them out of school two years ago, they’ve become more confident and passionate and are brimming with enthusiasm to learn.
“Kiki wants to be an animator while Maddie has ambitions to act or become the first female director of a big-budget action movie. The world really is their oyster.”
Removing your child from mainstream education may seem a controversial, precarious move for a parent, yet an increasing number – around 37,000 children in the UK – are home educated. The vivacious Loose Women panellist and her husband, TV producer Mark Adderley, have no regrets.