How to take your child out of school to home educate in the UK
A calm, step by step guide to deregistering your child from school in England, what the council will ask, and what to have ready before you start.
Most parents who message us about homeschooling start the same way. "I think I want to do this, but I don't know where to begin, and I'm scared of getting it wrong."
That's a normal feeling. The good news is that in England the process is simpler than most people expect. You don't need permission to home educate. You need to tell the school, and then make sure your child gets a good education at home.
Step 1: Write a short letter to the head teacher
If your child is at a mainstream school, you write to the head and ask them to remove your child from the school roll because you'll be educating them at home. Keep it short and polite. You don't have to give reasons.
The school then lets your local council know. That's it for the school side.
A few situations work differently
Check with your council first if any of these apply:
- Your child attends a special school arranged by the council.
- Your child has an EHCP (education, health and care plan).
- You live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, where the rules are a little different.
Step 2: Expect a friendly check-in from the council
Many councils have a home education team. They may get in touch to ask how you're planning to teach. This is usually informal. A short written outline of what your child is learning, and how, is often enough.
This is where a structured programme helps. If your child is with us, you can share the timetable, subjects and the weekly notes from their mentor.
Step 3: Plan the first month, not the whole year
Don't try to build a perfect year on day one. Children often need a few weeks to settle after leaving school. Start with a simple rhythm: the core subjects in the morning, something lighter in the afternoon, and time outdoors.
Keep a little folder of work. It's reassuring for you, and useful if the council asks.
You don't have to do it alone
The biggest worry we hear is "I can't teach every subject myself." You don't have to. Many families combine their own teaching with live lessons, so a qualified teacher covers Maths, English and Science while the family covers the rest.
Our full guide walks through all of this, with a sample letter to the school. It's free.
Want to talk it through?
Book a free, no-pressure call. We'll listen, ask about your child, and tell you honestly what we'd suggest.