Is Home Educating Legal In the UK?

Are you considering home educating your child but are not sure if it is legal? Read our guide to find the answers you need today.

Many parents contact us daily to find out their options when it comes to educating their children. For some parents the idea of sending their child to school does not fit with their outlook on education, and for others, they have tried mainstream schooling and found that it does not offer what their children needs. However, before you make any decisions about whether to home school or not, you need to find out about whether alternative education -homeschooling -is legal or not for you and your child.

Homeschooling Is Legal

In the UK, parents have the legal right to homeschool their child if they can provide some evidence to show that they have the skills and time required to provide a broad and balanced education. Every child in the UK must have a full-time education, and you will need to be able to explain how you will find the time to provide this. To proceed with homeschooling, you need to inform your child’s current school (if they have one) and the local authority’s homeschooling team. This doesn’t mean that you will need to copy the school system or the typical school day in your own home and provide evidence of enhanced resources or workbooks. You will however need to provide some evidence of your chid’s homeschooling learning journey, which may include any educational or extra curricular activities that you do yourself or that you may be outsourcing.

Children With Additional Needs

If your child has an additional learning need and currently attends a special school, then you must seek permission from the local council to educate your child at home. The homeschooling team will meet with you, teachers and your child to ascertain whether homeschooling is the right choice for your child.

School Attendance Orders

If after consideration the local council do not believe that an efficient, suitable and full-time education provision for your child will be provided through home education, they may seek a School Attendance Order. If this happens, you will be legally required to send your child to school to be educated. Failure to adhere to a School Attendance Order may result in prosecution, therefore you must stick to it while working with the local council to agree on a pathway to homeschooling.

Local Council Support

If you have decided to homeschool and have informed your local council, then they will keep in touch with you and offer check-ins and support if you request it. While they are unable to provide you with a curriculum to follow, they will have a wealth of experience that you can draw upon when you are first starting up.

Finding Support

One of the most important aspects of homeschooling is having access to the right support when you need it. The law requires homeschooling parents to provide an efficient, suitable and full-time education, but this is vague and does not provide you with the information that you need to get started.

Blackstone Masterclasses is an online resource, providing advice and courses on self-improvement, education and teaching. We are delighted to announce the release of our home schooling masterclass, an excellent resource for all your home educating needs.

Author Mrs Shafina Akhtar Bsc Hons optometry Bsc medical biology

Founder Blackstone Masterclasses

Lifestyle & Education Mentor