Home education
The following information below applies to England only.
Does my child have to go to school?
As a parent you have a legal duty to ensure that your child receives a suitable education when they are of compulsory school age (5–16 years). Education does not have to be in a school. You can choose to take full responsibility for your child’s learning, and educate them from home.
What if my child is already at school and I wish to home educate him?
If you are considering taking your child out of school, it is a good idea to get advice first. You can write to the headteacher to say that you are de-registering (withdrawing) your child from school and you are requesting his or her name to be removed from the school roll. The school must inform the local authority. You do not have to tell the local authority yourself if you are withdrawing your child from a mainstream school. However if you are withdrawing your child from a special school you need to get permission from your local authority.
What kind of education do I have to provide for my child at home?
You do not have to try and copy the education that a school provides. For example you do not have to provide a set timetable of lessons or a particular curriculum. How you arrange your child’s education is your decision. However, the local authority has a duty to identify children not receiving a suitable education and may contact you regularly for information about what you are providing. It is a good idea to prepare for this by keeping a file of evidence, which could include an education plan, and samples of your child’s work. This will help you to cooperate with any requests for information. If the local authority is not satisfied that you are providing a suitable education, they have the power to order you to send your child to school.
Can I home educate my child if she has a statement?
Local authorities can issue and continue to maintain a statement of special educational need for a child who is being educated at home. The procedures and timescales are the same as for a child at school. However, if the local authority are satisfied that you can provide the help set out in the statement, they do not have the duty to arrange it. The statement can name a school the local authority considers suitable, but will also state that parents have made their own arrangements for the child’s education. The local authority still has a duty to review the statement annually.
What support is available if I home educate my child?
The organisations below can provide further information and advice on your rights and responsibilities, information about local support and useful resources to help you.
Remember, you can contact us free on 0808 808 3555, or post a query on Facebook or Twitter and one of our SEN advisers will get back to you. Alternatively drop us an email helpline@cafamily.org.uk
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