How to start home education
Elective home education, also sometimes referred to as home schooling, is when a child is educated outside of the mainstream school system. Instead, a parent, guardian or private tutor teaches them at home, online, or in an alternative setting.
When making a decision about home education, do lots of research to help inform your thinking. Read tips on how to approach it and look for online groups where other families can offer advice.
There are some things to know before you start.
How to begin the process
When deciding to home educate, it’s important to bear in mind that once you have de-registered your child, the full responsibility of the provision of education for them is down to you as a parent. To begin the process of de-registration, you will need to follow certain steps, depending on your circumstances.
You can learn more about home schooling requirements from the government website. The Department for Education has detailed guidance for parents looking to start home education. Education Otherwise also offers help and advice for home educating families.
Tell the school that you plan to educate your child at home. If you are withdrawing your child from school to home educate, your child will be taken off roll, meaning their name will be removed from the school’s official attendance register. If you want to home school your child part-time and have them still attend school part-time, it won’t be possible to take your child off roll.
If you want to keep your child registered at their school but have them do their work at home, this is something you would need to arrange with the school and is at their discretion. Sometimes schools can suggest home schooling if your child is struggling with behaviour, grades or attendance.
If you feel you are being pressured to home school, you can go to your local SENDIAS, your school governors or your Local Authority for advice. Or you can speak to one of our parenting coaches.
You will need to contact your Local Authority for permission if you’d like your child to stay on roll at their school whilst you home educate. If you are withdrawing your child, you can inform the school and follow the process as normal.
You will need to get permission from the Local Authority.
This is not necessary if your child is in a mainstream school, even if they have an education, health and care plan (EHCP). The EHCP will remain in place during home education, and you will be expected to cover the requirements of the plan.
If your child attends an ERU within a special educational needs school, you will need to get permission from the Local Authority before you can withdraw them.
If the ERU is within a mainstream school, you do not need anyone’s permission and can follow the process of de-registering your child as normal.
Legal requirements for home education
Legally, all children must receive a full-time education from the age of five. Any child can be home educated, as long as they receive a full-time education.
You do not need to be a qualified teacher, or have any other special qualifications, to educate your child at home.
You don’t need to follow the national curriculum but it’s good practice to set learning objectives and keep records and evidence of what you are teaching. The council can make an “informal enquiry” to check what education your child is getting.
Your Local Authority (LA) may ask you to complete an annual update on what activities you are doing with your child, what they are learning and how you are tracking their progress. Whilst you are not legally required to complete this, you must still reply and show that your child is receiving a suitable education.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which becomes effective in September 2026, introduces some new rules and requirements for home education.
The Local Authority may also request to visit your home. You are legally allowed to refuse this, but some parents find it helpful as a chance to explain what they are doing. If you’re unsure, you can ask what the visit would involve and decide what feels right for you. Working with professionals can sometimes make things easier, especially if they are offering support.
The LA will also consider your child’s overall wellbeing and safety. This is why they may ask questions or suggest support from other services. While this can feel worrying, the aim is to make sure your child is safe and getting the support they need.
If the Local Authority feel that your child isn’t receiving a suitable education at home, they may issue a Return to Education Order. If this happens, you will need to provide proof of education or re-register your child at a school within 15 days.
Daily life, routine and structure
A typical day of home education can look very different from school. It’s okay for learning to be informal and to vary from day to day.
Home education doesn’t have to be a full day of lessons at a desk. Learning often happens through everyday activities, conversations, hobbies, or interests.
It might include:
- short learning sessions with breaks in between
- a mix of written work, discussion, practical activities, or projects
- time to rest if your child feels overwhelmed
- learning linked to your child’s interests
- experiences out in the community
Some parents choose to copy parts of school, such as set lesson times or a lunch break. Others keep the day flexible and let learning happen more naturally. Both approaches are valid.
You don’t have to create a structured weekly timetable if you feel it doesn’t suit your child’s needs. Some children feel safer with routine and predictability, while others can struggle if the day feels too rigid.
Home education gives you the option to keep structure where it helps and remove it where it causes stress. You can also change your approach over time – many families adjust as they learn what works best for their child.
Being at home does not automatically mean a child will want to learn. Some children are calmer out of school but still find learning hard, especially if they have experienced:
- anxiety or burnout
- school trauma
- pressure or repeated failure
Parents often need to rebuild engagement slowly. Learning tends to work better when it:
- fits your child’s interests and strengths
- matches their energy levels
- feels manageable rather than pressured
It is important to know that engagement can take time, and progress is not always straightforward.
It’s also common for there to be a pause when you start home educating, sometimes called “de schooling”. This gives your child time to settle after leaving school before restarting learning.
Knowing what your child should learn each year
You do not have to follow the National Curriculum. Once a child is home educated, parents and carers take full responsibility for education. This means you can choose what and how your child learns.
Some families follow the National Curriculum closely, whilst others use it as a guide only. Some choose a completely different approach, but if you want to keep exam options open, you can use the curriculum as a reference.
Many parents decide what to teach by:
- looking at the National Curriculum for guidance
- working backwards from GCSE requirements
- focusing on gaps caused by missed schooling
- prioritising wellbeing, confidence and skills first
Local authorities may ask for evidence that education is happening, so it’s important to keep a record of your child’s learning.
Parents usually build a mix of support while home educating. This can include:
- online schools that provide structured lessons
- tutors, often for maths or English
- free or paid online learning platforms
- local colleges that accept home educated students
- local home education groups, clubs and activities
What is available varies by area, so most families need to research what works locally.
Home educated children do not have to sit SATs or any tests.
GCSEs and A levels are optional. If your child chooses to take them, you will need to register them (often earlier than they were if they were in school) and pay for each exam they sit.
You will also need to arrange for a suitable place for them to sit their exams. This is usually an external centre or college.
Some families choose to delay or skip exams, depending on their child’s situation.
Home education can work well at secondary level, but it often needs more planning.
One to one learning can help children make progress, especially if school was overwhelming. However, gaps can develop if learning is inconsistent or engagement is low.
Many families increase structure during the teenage years, particularly if exams are planned.
This may include:
- online schools
- tutors for specific subjects
- college courses for home-educated students
- online platforms and apps for independent learning
- clearer routines and expectations
Teenagers often benefit from learning support that comes from outside the parent child relationship. The level of structure will still depend on your child’s needs and their mental health.
Page last reviewed: July 2026
Next review due: July 2029
This advice was written by our experienced Parent Talk coaches. Parent Talk is a free online service for parents and carers, provided by the charity Action for Children. For more advice, message our parenting coaches with our online chat.
