Educating my child at home

Information for parents who are home educating

Parents do not have to send their child to school. You may legally provide an education at home. In England and Wales you do not have to get permission even if your child has a statement. The one exception is if your child is attending a special school, then you must get the permission of the local authority to remove your child’s name from the school roll.

You must provide a suitable education for your child if you home educate. This means an education that is right for your child’s age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. You don’t have to provide the education described on a statement in exactly the same way as a school, but you must make sure you provide help for all your child’s needs. You can do this alone or with the help of tutors, correspondence courses, family and friends. 

Find out more about home based programmes.

Considering home education? Read our key facts first.