If you are home educating, it is very normal to wonder what the local authority can actually do, especially if you have had a letter, a phone call, or a bit of confusion about your rights. The short answer is this: in England, the local authority does not approve your home education, does not sign it off, and does not inspect it. Your role as a parent is to provide a suitable education, and the local authority’s main duty is to identify children who do not appear to be receiving one. If you are new to home education UK, that distinction matters a lot.
This guide explains the role of the local authority in education, what that means for home educating families, and how approaches such as flexi schooling, unschooling and world schooling fit into the picture. It also covers what to do if you are trying to keep a tidy record of learning, because that can make life much easier if you ever need to explain your child’s education clearly. If that is you, Flybrite can help with that too, turning everyday learning into a simple record you own, in minutes, through home education platform.
What is the role of the local authorities in education?
In England, the local authority has a duty under section 436A of the Education Act 1996 to identify children in its area who are not receiving a suitable education. That is the key point. It is not there to approve your home education plan, choose your approach, or demand a curriculum. It does not have a legal right to insist on lesson plans, photographs, samples of work, or a particular style of education.
For home educating families, the local authority may make informal enquiries if it is trying to work out whether a child appears to be receiving a suitable education. These enquiries are voluntary for parents to respond to. You are not legally required to accept a home visit either. That said, if you provide no information at all, the local authority may conclude that the education does not appear suitable, so many families choose to reply in a calm, brief, and factual way.
In practice, the local authority’s role is limited. It can ask questions. It can keep records. It can look into concerns. It cannot take over your role as the parent responsible for your child’s education. If you want a fuller explanation of your rights, elective home education is a useful place to start.
What the local authority can and cannot do
What it can do
- Make informal enquiries if it is trying to establish whether a child appears to be receiving a suitable education.
- Ask for a written account of how your child is being educated.
- Look at concerns where a child may not be in suitable education.
- Offer information about local services, where appropriate.
What it cannot do
- Approve or reject your home education.
- Require you to follow the National Curriculum.
- Demand work samples, photos, or a portfolio of your child’s learning.
- Insist on a home visit.
- Require you to register on a live home education register in England, because the Children Not in School register is not yet in force.
That last point is important. The Children Not in School register was created by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, but those sections are not in force yet. They will only begin on a day appointed by regulations. So if you are hearing mixed messages online, remember that a future register is not the same thing as a live legal duty right now.
How local authority contact usually works for home educating families
Most families want to stay on good terms with the local authority, even if they do not agree with every request. A polite, clear response usually works best. In England, if your child has been removed from a mainstream school to be home educated, you normally write to the school to say you are taking responsibility for their education. You do not need local authority permission for a mainstream school, but the rules are different for special schools, where consent is needed. If you are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the process is different again, so do check the right nation-specific guidance.
For many home education UK families, the first contact from the local authority is simply a letter asking how your child is being educated. You can respond with a short written account. You do not have to send photos or copies of work. You do not have to create a formal school-style report if that is not how your family works. The evidence is your own written account of education, which can describe books read, trips taken, conversations, projects, practical life skills, online learning, clubs, volunteering, and anything else that forms part of your child’s learning.
If you prefer to keep your own records tidy as you go, Flybrite can help. It is designed to turn everyday moments into a neat, LA-ready record in minutes, which is much easier than trying to reconstruct months of learning later. You can see how that works in.
Home education UK: your legal position in England
In England, the legal duty is on parents under section 7 of the Education Act 1996 to provide an efficient full-time education suitable to your child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. That is the core legal test. It does not say you must use school methods, school hours, or a school curriculum.
This is why home education UK is so flexible. Some families use structured resources and a weekly timetable. Others blend projects, reading, outings and practical learning. Some families use an eclectic mix. Some prefer child-led learning. All of these can be suitable if the overall education is appropriate for the child.
The local authority’s job is not to decide whether your approach looks like school. Its job is to check whether a child appears to be receiving a suitable education. That is a much narrower role. If you want help thinking through the different home education approaches, including structured, eclectic and child-led options, take a look at Different Approaches to Home Education.
Flexi schooling UK: where the local authority fits in
Flexi schooling UK is often mentioned alongside home education, but it is not the same thing. Flexi schooling usually means a child is on the school roll for part of the week and educated at home for the rest. It is only possible if the school agrees, so the arrangement depends on the school rather than on a general right to demand it.
The local authority may be involved indirectly because the child is still on roll at a school, but it does not create flexi schooling as a legal entitlement. Some schools are open to it, some are not. If you are considering this route, it is worth speaking to the school first and making sure everyone is clear about attendance, expectations and how learning will be recorded.
For families who want a gentler transition away from full-time school, flexi schooling can feel like a middle step. For others, it is not the right fit. That is perfectly fine. The important thing is to understand that flexi schooling UK is a school-based arrangement, whereas home education is parent-led education outside school.
Unschooling UK: how local authority questions are best answered
Unschooling UK is one of the most misunderstood approaches. It usually means learning is led by the child’s interests, questions, daily life and natural curiosity, rather than by a fixed timetable or formal lesson plan. It does not mean no learning is happening. It means the learning may look less like school and more like real life.
Local authority staff sometimes struggle if they expect a school-shaped answer, so it helps to describe the education clearly in plain English. You might explain that your child learns through reading, conversation, play, cooking, building, games, clubs, nature walks, museums, creative work or online exploration. The key is to show how the child is being educated over time, not to force the family into a school-style template.
It is also worth remembering that child-led learning and unschooling are not identical to every family. Some home educators use a mostly child-led approach with a few planned activities. Others are more structured. If you are still deciding what suits your family, Home Education Curriculum Planning Guide can help you think about planning without making it feel rigid.
World schooling UK: what local authorities need to know
World schooling UK families often combine travel, cultural learning, languages, practical life skills and local experiences wherever they are based. This can be a brilliant fit for families who move often, spend time abroad, or build learning around different places and cultures.
From a local authority point of view, the question is still the same: is the child receiving a suitable education? The family does not need to use a conventional school model just because they travel. A well-kept written account can explain how learning is being covered through travel journals, reading, maths in everyday life, museum visits, language learning, geography, history, and local community experiences.
For world schooling families, records can be especially helpful because learning may happen in short bursts and in many places. Flybrite is a good fit here because it lets you log those moments as you go, so your record stays neat even when family life is busy. If you want a simple system, home education costs shows the 7-day free trial, no card to start, and the record stays yours.
What if the local authority asks for evidence?
Many home educating parents worry most about this bit. The safest approach is to provide a clear written account of education. Keep it factual and calm. You can mention the books your child is reading, topics they are exploring, practical activities, online courses, clubs, outings, and any progress you have seen over time. You are under no legal obligation to produce specific evidence such as photos or samples of work, and you should not be told otherwise.
If you do choose to keep extra records for your own peace of mind, that is your choice. Photos, scans and notes can be useful for your family archive, but they are not something the local authority is entitled to demand. Many families find it easier to keep a simple running log rather than trying to gather proof later. That is exactly the kind of job Flybrite is built for, because it turns everyday learning into a tidy record without making you do extra admin at the end of the month.
Practical tips for dealing with the local authority confidently
1. Keep your reply short, clear and factual
You do not need to write an essay. A simple explanation of what your child is learning, how often, and in what broad ways is usually enough to start a sensible conversation.
2. Stay polite, even if the letter feels intrusive
It is frustrating when you feel your family is being questioned. A calm tone often gets a better response than a defensive one.
3. Keep your own records as you go
Write down books read, visits, projects, practical learning and anything else that matters in your family. This is where a tool like Flybrite saves time, because it keeps everything in one place and makes it easy to create a clear written account when needed.
4. Know the difference between a voluntary enquiry and a legal requirement
You can choose how much information to share. A home visit is voluntary. So is responding in a particular format. But if you ignore everything, the authority may decide the education does not appear suitable, so it is often wise to send something brief and sensible.
5. Keep nation-specific rules separate
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not the same. Do not rely on advice that blurs them together. If you are in Scotland, the rules about withdrawing from a public school are different. If you are in Northern Ireland, the school principal should be told, and the Education Authority only needs to be told for a special school.
How Flybrite helps home educating families stay organised
One of the hardest parts of home education is not the learning itself, it is remembering what happened when life gets busy. That is why many families like a simple digital record. Flybrite is designed for home educating families who want to keep track of learning without turning it into a chore. You can log activities, build a tidy record, and keep everything in one place so you are not scrambling if the local authority gets in touch.
It is especially useful if your family uses a mix of approaches, such as structured work in some subjects, child-led learning, outings, and practical life skills. Instead of trying to explain your whole year from memory, you have a clear written account ready to go. If you want to see how it works, start with, then check for the 7-day free trial, no card to start, and the record stays yours.
FAQ: local authorities and home education UK
Do local authorities approve home education in England?
No. In England, local authorities do not approve or sign off home education. Their role is to identify children who do not appear to be receiving a suitable education.
Do I have to send photos or work samples to the local authority?
No. You are under no legal obligation to produce specific evidence such as photographs or samples of work. A written account of education is the key thing.
Do I have to accept a home visit?
No. Home visits are voluntary. You can choose whether or not to agree to one.
Do I need to register on a home education register in England?
Not at present. A Children Not in School register was created by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, but those sections are not yet in force.
Is the National Curriculum required for home education UK families?
No. In England, the National Curriculum is not required for home education. Your child’s education must be suitable, but it does not have to mirror school.
Conclusion: know your rights, keep good records, and stay calm
For home educating families, the local authority’s role is limited and specific. It is there to identify children who do not appear to be receiving a suitable education, not to control how you educate your child. Once you know that, the process feels much less intimidating. Whether your family uses flexi schooling, unschooling, world schooling or a more structured approach, the same principle applies: keep a sensible written account, stay calm, and focus on what is actually helping your child learn.
If you want an easier way to keep that record without adding more admin to your week, Flybrite is here for you. Start your 7-day free trial, no card to start, and keep the record yours with.