The Complete Guide to Home Education in England

In England, the starting point is section 7 of the Education Act 1996: parents must secure that every child of compulsory school age receives “efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have,” either by regular attendance at school or “otherwise.” Home education is one form of “otherwise.”

This is sometimes called elective home education (EHE): you are choosing to educate at home rather than at school. You do not need approval from a school or Local Authority (LA) to home educate, but you remain responsible for the education being suitable.

• Legislation: Education Act 1996 — see legislation.gov.uk for the current text of section 7.
• Department for Education publishes non-statutory guidance for LAs and parents on home education (check gov.uk for the latest version).

Compulsory school age runs from the start of the term after a child’s fifth birthday until the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16 (with specific cut-off rules set out in regulations). Before and after that window, different considerations apply.

Always confirm dates for your child’s birth month using the official rules — schools and LAs use these definitions for registration and monitoring.

If you withdraw your child from a maintained school to home educate, you must follow the correct procedure so the headteacher can remove the pupil from the admission register in line with regulations — typically by giving written notice. Voluntary registration in independent schools involves different rules.

Independent schools: if your child is registered at an independent school, notify the proprietor in line with your agreement and any statutory requirements. Do not assume the same letters used for maintained settings apply unchanged.

There is no universal checklist. LAs may ask proportionate questions to satisfy themselves that education is suitable. Suitability is judged in relation to the child’s age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs — not by whether you follow the National Curriculum.

Many families keep a simple record of activities, resources and progress so they can explain their provision clearly if asked. That is where tools that log learning and produce structured reports can help — but the legal duty remains yours.

If your child has an Education, Health and Care (EHCP), the plan continues to set out the special educational provision that must be made. How that provision is delivered when you home educate is a matter for your LA in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. Seek specialist SEND advice where outcomes and provision are disputed.

Even without an EHCP, if the LA has reason to think a child is not receiving suitable education, statutory processes exist; parents should read official guidance rather than relying on social media summaries.

Home educated children are not entered for state school exams automatically. Families typically enter as private candidates at exam centres, follow awarding-body specifications, and plan ahead for costs and deadlines.

Post-16 education, training and apprenticeship routes are the same broad national landscape as for other young people — plan transitions early.