UK Home Education Legal Hub

In England and Wales, you generally do not need permission to home educate your child unless:

• Your child attends a special school (permission needed from local authority)
• Your child is subject to a School Attendance Order
• Your child is under a child protection plan (under the new 2025 legislation)

In Scotland, you must request permission from the local authority if your child is already registered at a school.

No, you are not required to follow the National Curriculum when home educating. You have the freedom to:

• Create your own educational approach
• Use the curriculum as a reference but adapt it
• Follow alternative educational philosophies (e.g., Montessori, unschooling)

The law requires only that education be “suitable” to your child’s age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs they may have.

Local authorities can make “informal inquiries” to ensure your child is receiving suitable education, but currently:

• They cannot insist on home visits
• They cannot demand to see your child
• You can provide evidence of education in various ways (work samples, written reports, etc.)

Under the 2025 Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, local authorities will have enhanced powers to request information about educational provision.

Current status (2025):

• Registration is currently voluntary in most of the UK
• If your child has never been to school, you don’t need to notify anyone
• If removing your child from school, you must inform the school in writing

Future changes: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will require mandatory registration with local authorities for all home educated children.

When you choose to home educate, you assume full financial responsibility for your child’s education:

• There is no direct financial support specifically for home education
• You must pay for all educational resources, materials, and exam fees
• Some local authorities may provide limited support like library resources or information about work experience opportunities

Normal child benefits and other family-related benefits remain unaffected by your decision to home educate.