Can I Home School My Child? Parent Guide to Homeschooling

Have you ever wondered if homeschooling might be beneficial for your child? You might even be wondering if homeschooling is even possible. 

As a parent, you have the legal responsibility to ensure your child receives a suitable education. This can happen at school or at home—it's your choice.

In this guide, we answer the question: “Can I home school my child?” We will break down whether homeschooling is a viable route and what it involves so you can make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways

• You can legally home educate your child in the UK—it's called elective home education (EHE) and thousands of families do it

• You don't need teaching qualifications or permission from the council—just a commitment to providing a suitable education

• Deregistering from state school is straightforward: you write a letter, and the school must remove your child from the roll

• There's no requirement to follow the National Curriculum, sit exams, or stick to school hours, you have flexibility to educate your way

Is Homeschooling Legal in the UK?

Yes, absolutely. Homeschooling—officially called elective home education (EHE)—is completely legal across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 (opens in a new tab) states that parents must ensure their child receives "efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs they may have."

Here's what you need to know about the legal side:

• In England and Wales, if your child attends a state school, you can simply deregister them by writing a letter to the headteacher. No permission needed. The school must remove your child from the register, and they'll inform the local authority.

• The exception: If your child attends a special school with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) (opens in a new tab), you'll need the local authority's consent before you can deregister. Similarly, if the local authority has issued a School Attendance Order (opens in a new tab), you can't home educate without their agreement.

• In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the process differs slightly. Scottish (opens in a new tab) parents must get consent from their local education authority before withdrawing their child from school. In Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab), you'll need to inform the Education Authority of your intention to home educate.

If your child has never been registered at school—perhaps they're just reaching school age—you don't need to notify anyone. You simply continue educating them at home.

Why Parents Choose to Homeschool

Families home educate for many reasons, including:

• Bullying or mental health difficulties – Home education can offer a calmer, safer environment.

• Special educational needs – Learning can be tailored precisely to your child’s needs and pace. Our article on Exam Access Arrangements for GCSE and A Level will explain more about how these can be handled in school.

• Religious or philosophical beliefs – Some families want an education aligned with their values.

• Curriculum dissatisfaction – You may want more flexibility than the National Curriculum allows.

• Lifestyle flexibility and child-led learning – Home education adapts to your family, not the other way around.

Whatever the reason, choosing EHE is about finding what works best for your child and supporting them as fully as possible.

How to Deregister Your Child from School

Step 1: Send a deregistration letter

Keep it simple and direct:

Dear [Headteacher], 

I am withdrawing [child’s name] from [school] with immediate effect in order to provide elective home education. Please remove them from the school roll. 

Yours sincerely, [Your name].

No explanation is required, as long as you make the situation clear.

Step 2: After the letter

The school must deregister your child immediately, no permission needed. The local authority may contact you to discuss your plans as part of their routine due diligence.

Step 3: Local authority involvement

Authorities may request an outline of your educational approach. You do not have to provide detailed plans or allow home visits, though many parents choose to share a brief overview to maintain a positive relationship.

Special circumstances

Children with EHCPs in special schools require local authority consent for deregistration.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, withdrawal procedures involve formal notification or consent.

What Does a “Suitable” Education Look Like?

You do not have to follow the National Curriculum or teach 9–3. A suitable education is:

• Full-time – but “full-time” is flexible; one-to-one learning is far more efficient.

• Efficient – your child should be learning and progressing.

• Suitable to age, ability, and needs – education should match your child’s developmental stage, not arbitrary curriculum milestones.

What this looks like

• For a 7-year-old, this might include shared reading, nature walks, crafts, simple maths games, and lots of play-based learning.

• For a 14-year-old, it might involve structured lessons, online courses, deep-dives into personal interests, volunteering, and preparation for GCSEs or IGCSEs if desired.

Families teach in many different ways—some use textbooks, some project-based learning, some unschool entirely. The law allows you the freedom to decide.

Choosing a Homeschooling Approach

There's no single "right" way to home educate. Many families mix and match these approaches:

1. Structured homeschooling. This looks most like traditional school. You follow a timetable, work through textbooks and workbooks, and cover subjects systematically. It provides clear structure and progression, which some children thrive on.

2. Semi-structured. You cover core subjects like maths and English more formally. You can let other learning happen organically through projects, interests, and real-life experiences. This balances structure with flexibility.

3. Unschooling or child-led learning. Children direct their own education based on interests and curiosity. Parents facilitate rather than instruct. This approach requires trust that children are naturally motivated to learn.

4. Online or curriculum providers. Programmes like Wolsey Hall (opens in a new tab), Minerva (opens in a new tab) or InterHigh (opens in a new tab) provide full curricula, lesson plans, and even teacher support. These can be particularly helpful if you're working or want external structure and accountability.

The beauty of home education is that you can change your approach as you go. Start structured and gradually loosen up, or begin child-led and add more structure for exam years. It's entirely up to you.

Homeschooling Resources

You don't need expensive materials to home educate well, but having the right resources helps enormously.

Workbooks and textbooks

CGP textbooks and revision guides are widely used for core subjects and exam preparation.

Online platforms

For exam-level students, Save My Exams provides revision notes, flashcards, past papers, video explanations, and examiner-written solutions for GCSE, IGCSE, A Level, and IB questions. Because the content is tailored to each specification, home-educating families often use it to remove guesswork.

We have a guide to home educating for GCSEs, home educating for IGCSEs, and a guide to home educating for A Levels to help you get started.

Exam boards

Home-educated students sit exams as private candidates. Common choices include:

• Edexcel (Pearson) (opens in a new tab) – strong for IGCSEs, often easier to access privately

• Cambridge International (opens in a new tab) – designed for private and international candidates

• AQA (opens in a new tab) – widely offered in schools for GCSEs and A Levels

Families often choose IGCSEs because they are very accessible for private entry.

Local homeschooling groups

These offer meet-ups, shared resources, group classes, and support. Many families find their strongest community here.

Socialisation and Support

"But what about socialisation?" is the question every home educator hears constantly. Rest assured, homeschooled children can be well socialised, it just happens differently.

• Group classes and clubs. Many home-educated children attend swimming lessons, drama clubs, football teams, Scouts and music lessons. These provide regular peer interaction in contexts they enjoy.

• Sports and physical activities. Join local sports clubs, dance classes, martial arts, climbing centres. There are endless opportunities for physical activity and social connection.

• Volunteering. Older children can volunteer with charities, community projects, libraries, or animal shelters. This builds social skills whilst contributing meaningfully to their community.

• Online learning communities. Virtual classes and online groups connect home educators across the country. Children make friends, collaborate on projects, and learn together. Though, this happens a lot through screens.

• Local meet-ups and co-ops. Home education groups often organise regular meet-ups, park days and museum trips. They run learning co-ops where parents teach different subjects to small groups. This creates a community of learners.

Home-educated children often have rich, varied social experiences compared to their school-attending peers. They interact with people of all ages in real-world contexts. They don't just speak to same-age classmates in school settings.

Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

Let's be realistic. Home education comes with genuine challenges, alongside its benefits.

Pros:

• Flexibility: Learn when, where, and how suits your family. Take holidays in term time, adjust pace to your child's needs, pursue interests deeply.

• Tailored learning. Education designed precisely for your child's learning style, pace, interests, and needs. It's not a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

• Reduced stress. No homework battles, morning rushes, or pressure to keep up with arbitrary timelines. Many children thrive when school-related anxiety is removed.

• Stronger family bonds. Spending time together, learning together, and sharing experiences can deepen relationships.

Cons:

• Time commitment. Home education requires significant parental time and energy. It's challenging if you work full-time, though not impossible with planning.

• Cost of resources. While you can home educate cheaply, quality resources, exam fees, and activities add up. Budget £500-£2000+ annually depending on your approach.

• Responsibility for exams. If your child wants GCSEs or A Levels, you'll need to find exam centres, pay fees (typically £100-150 per subject), and ensure they're prepared. Schools do this automatically; you'll coordinate it all.

• Potential isolation. Both for children and parents. It takes effort to build a social network and community—it doesn't happen automatically like at school.

• Scrutiny and judgment: Some family members, friends, or strangers may question your decision. You'll need confidence in your choice.

Reflect honestly on your family situation, resources, and commitment. Home education works beautifully for many families, but it's not right for everyone, and that's perfectly okay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need permission?

Not in England or Wales for mainstream schools. You only need consent if your child has an EHCP and attends a special school. Scotland requires consent before withdrawal.

Do I need qualifications?

No. You don’t need teaching experience or formal credentials. What you need most is the continued willingness to work towards creating a suitable education for your child.

Will my child sit GCSEs?

Only if you choose. Many home-educated students take GCSEs or IGCSEs as private candidates by registering with a local school or exam centre. Fees usually range from £100–£150 per subject.

How much does homeschooling cost?

This varies wildly based on your approach. At the lower end, you might spend £200-500 annually on basic workbooks, library memberships, and occasional activities. 

Mid-range families spend £1000-2000 on structured curricula, online subscriptions, classes, and trips. 

At the higher end, using online schools or extensive private tutoring could cost £5000+. Exam fees add approximately £100-150 per GCSE. Remember, you're not paying for uniforms, school trips, or daily school costs, which offsets some expenses.

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling is absolutely possible for UK families. Thousands already do it, finding it rewarding, flexible, and well-suited to their children’s needs.

You don’t need to be a perfect teacher. You simply need commitment to creating an education in which your child thrives. You can use structured lessons, project-based learning, online courses, or child-led exploration. Whichever way, you have the freedom to design a learning environment that fits them.

There will be challenges, including time, planning, cost, and occasional scepticism. But there is also enormous joy in watching your child learn free from unnecessary pressure.

If you’re considering home education, start small. Research your local groups, explore resources and speak with other families. Talk openly with your child. Most importantly, remember that choosing home education is your legal right. With support and preparation, it can become a successful path.

References

• Education Act 1996, Section 7 (opens in a new tab)

• Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Extra help - (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)

• Education Act 1996 (opens in a new tab) 

• Section 3 Withdrawing a child from school - Home education guidance - (opens in a new tab)gov.scot (opens in a new tab)

• Educating your child at home | nidirect (opens in a new tab)

• Wolsey Hall (opens in a new tab) 

• Minerva (opens in a new tab)

• InterHigh (opens in a new tab)