Wondering how home education actually works can bring up a lot of questions. Do you need a timetable? Must you follow the National Curriculum? What happens if the Local Authority gets in touch? The reassuring answer is that there is no single way to educate your child at home, and in most situations you do not need permission to begin. The details do depend on where you live in the UK, so it is worth understanding the rules that apply to your nation.
This guide explains the practical and legal basics, from withdrawing a child from school to finding a rhythm that works for your family. You can build a suitable education around your child, your circumstances and the time and resources you have.
What is home education?
Home education means that a parent or guardian takes responsibility for arranging their child’s education outside school. You might use books, online materials, planned lessons, projects, visits, conversations and everyday activities. Some families follow a structured programme, while others take a more flexible or interest-led approach. Many combine several methods and change them as their child grows.
Home education is not simply school lessons moved to the kitchen table. You are free to organise learning in a way that suits your child, provided the education is suitable for their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs. The law does not require a particular teaching method, named approach, timetable or curriculum.
How does home education work in practice?
In practice, home education is a continuing process: you notice what your child needs, make opportunities for learning, and adjust as you go. Learning might happen through a planned maths session, a library visit, cooking, a nature walk, building a model or researching a question your child has asked. Lessons and worksheets can be useful, but they are not compulsory.
Some families like clear plans and regular routines. Others prefer a looser week that leaves room for projects and spontaneous interests. Approaches are descriptions, not legal categories, and you do not have to choose or register one. If you are weighing up possibilities, read about different home education approaches, including structured, eclectic and child-led options.
Child-led learning is not automatically the same as autonomous education or unschooling. Families use these terms in different ways. The important thing is to make thoughtful decisions about your child’s education, rather than feeling you must fit a label.
Do you need permission or a curriculum?
In England, the duty to make sure a child receives an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs rests with the parent under section 7 of the Education Act 1996. You do not need Local Authority approval to begin home educating, and you do not have to follow the National Curriculum. Curriculum plans, textbooks and online courses are optional resources, not legal requirements.
The rules for leaving school differ across the UK. In England and Wales, parents generally give written notice to the school when withdrawing a child from a mainstream school. Local Authority consent is needed to withdraw a child from a special school. In Scotland, you must obtain the council’s consent to withdraw a child who has been attending a public school under section 35 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. In Northern Ireland, you do not need Education Authority permission for a child leaving a mainstream school: tell the school principal. The Education Authority must be told if the child attends a special school.
Check the process for your own circumstances before taking action, especially if your child attends a special school or has an education plan. Our guide to home education law and your rights explains the key distinctions in more detail. If you are just beginning, the guide to getting started with home education can help you work through the first steps.
What happens when the Local Authority contacts you?
In England, the Local Authority has a duty under section 436A of the Education Act 1996 to identify children of compulsory school age who do not appear to be receiving a suitable education. This is not the same as approving, inspecting or signing off your home education. The authority may make informal enquiries to find out whether a suitable education appears to be taking place.
You are not legally required to accept a home visit or respond to informal enquiries. However, if you provide no information, the authority may conclude that it cannot see that a suitable education is being provided. A clear, calm written account of your child’s education can help explain what is happening. You are under no legal obligation to produce specific evidence such as photographs, work samples or copies of your child’s work. Keep any photographs for your family’s own records, not as something you must send to the Local Authority.
Local Authority practice and the relevant arrangements differ across the UK. Before replying, read correspondence carefully, keep a copy and ask for clarification if a request is unclear. For practical guidance on Local Authority enquiries and written accounts, see our dedicated guide.
The Children Not in School register provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, but those sections are not yet in force. They will commence on a day appointed by regulations. Do not assume that the future register is currently in operation or that you must register now.
How do you plan learning at home?
Start with your child and your family’s practical circumstances. Consider their age, interests, current knowledge, support needs, energy levels, and how much structure feels manageable. You do not need a perfect plan before you begin. A simple plan gives you somewhere to start, and you can revise it when you see what works.
Choose a starting point, not a rigid system
You might begin by noting broad areas you want to make time for, such as reading, writing, maths, science, creative work, movement and social opportunities. A curriculum or scheme can give you ideas and sequence topics, but it is only one option. You can also build learning around projects, books, interests and experiences. See our guide to planning a home education year for ways to make a flexible plan.
Try a gentle weekly rhythm
Rather than copying a school timetable, decide what anchors your week. You might have a regular library visit, a few short focused activities, time outdoors and an open project slot. Leave room for rest, appointments and unexpected interests. If a plan is consistently causing tension, simplify it and try again.
Make use of everyday learning
Cooking can involve measuring, fractions and reading instructions. A bus journey can prompt map-reading and budgeting. Gardening, a museum visit or fixing something at home can lead to questions about science, history and design. These activities do not need to be turned into formal lessons to be worthwhile.
How can you keep records of home education?
There is no single record-keeping format that every family must use. A brief note of what your child has been doing, topics they have explored, books they have read and skills they are developing can help you see progress and plan next steps. Keep records in a way that is useful to you, rather than creating paperwork for its own sake.
For example, jot down a few lines at the end of the week: what caught your child’s interest, what they practised, what went well and what you might offer next. You can keep a reading list, project notes or a calendar of outings too. Photographs can be part of your own family record, but they are not something you are required to provide to the Local Authority.
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What about GCSEs and qualifications?
Home-educated young people can work towards GCSEs, but they do not have to follow the same route as pupils at school. Families may use an online course, a tutor, independent study or a combination. A young person usually sits exams as a private candidate at an exam centre that accepts private candidates. Contact centres early, because subjects with practical or coursework components can take extra planning and not every centre offers every subject.
Check the exam board’s specification, assessment rules, fees and entry arrangements well in advance. Some families choose other qualifications or focus on skills and interests instead. Think about your young person’s goals and seek current advice from the relevant exam board or centre before making plans.
How can home-educated children find social opportunities?
There is no single social timetable that suits every child. Local libraries, museums, clubs, sports groups, community activities and home education meet-ups can all offer chances to spend time with others. Some families arrange regular activities; others prefer occasional events. Ask your child what they enjoy, and take account of travel, cost, access needs and downtime.
Social experiences can include people of different ages, not only children in the same year group. Everyday interactions at a club, volunteering activity or community event can be valuable too. Give your child time to settle into new situations, and do not feel that you need to fill every day with organised activities.
Practical tips for a confident start
- Check your nation’s rules first. Withdrawal steps differ, particularly for children attending special schools and for children in Scotland.
- Begin simply. Pick a few useful resources and routines before buying a large collection of materials.
- Talk with your child. Include their interests and views, while keeping your responsibility for arranging a suitable education in mind.
- Make a realistic weekly plan. Build around family life, health, work and rest, then adjust when needed.
- Keep brief notes. A regular short record is often easier to maintain than trying to reconstruct months of learning later.
- Review and adapt. If an activity, resource or routine is not working, you can change it. Home education can evolve over time.
- Ask for support. Other home educators, local groups, libraries and specialist organisations may help you find information and community.
Frequently asked questions about home education
Do I have to teach my child at home every day?
The law does not prescribe school hours or a set timetable for home education. You are responsible for arranging a suitable education, and learning can happen in different ways throughout family life. Make a plan that is appropriate for your child and workable for your household.
Does home education have to follow the National Curriculum?
No. In England, home educators do not have to follow the National Curriculum. You can use curriculum materials if they help, or organise learning through projects, interests and everyday experiences.
Can the Local Authority make me accept a home visit?
In England, accepting a home visit as part of informal enquiries is voluntary. You are also not legally required to respond to those enquiries, but providing no information can leave the authority unable to see that the education appears suitable.
Can a home-educated child take GCSEs?
Yes. A home-educated young person can usually enter GCSE exams as a private candidate through an exam centre that accepts private candidates. Check availability, practical requirements, entry dates and fees with centres and exam boards early.
Is there a home education register in force in England?
The Children Not in School register provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 are not yet in force. They are due to commence on a day appointed by regulations, so do not treat them as a current registration requirement.
A flexible way to make home education work for your family
Home education works through the choices you make day by day: noticing your child’s needs, offering opportunities to learn and adapting your plans as family life changes. You do not need to recreate school at home or have every answer before you begin. A thoughtful, suitable education can take many forms.
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