Can I Temporarily Deregister My Child From School?

If you're thinking about taking your child out of school for a few weeks or months, you're probably wondering whether "temporary deregistration" is possible. Maybe you're planning extended family travel or your child needs time to recover from illness. Perhaps you're considering trying home education without fully committing.

The short answer? It's more complicated than it sounds to deregister a child from school. Let's break down what you need to know and what the process involves.

Key Takeaways

• There's no formal system for "temporary deregistration" in the UK — once you deregister, your child leaves the school roll entirely

• You're not guaranteed to get the same school place back if you want to re-enrol later

• There are alternatives like authorised absence, flexi-schooling, or formal home education that might suit your situation better

• Rules vary across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so check what applies in your area

What Does Deregistering a Child Mean?

“Deregistration” means officially removing your child from the school roll. Once this happens, they're no longer enrolled as a pupil at that school.

This is completely different from taking authorised absence. When your child has authorised time off (like for a medical appointment or bereavement), they remain registered at the school. The school keeps their place, tracks their attendance, and expects them back.

Before you decide to take the plunge, it’s key to remember that deregistration is permanent removal. There's no pause button – you want to be sure you’re fine with the consequences.

Is Temporary Deregistration Allowed in the UK?

You might be surprised to learn that temporary deregistration doesn't really exist as a formal option.

When you deregister your child from school, you're making a permanent decision to remove them from that school's roll. The school isn't obliged to hold their place open. There's also no legal mechanism that guarantees they can return to the same school later.

Some parents assume they can deregister for a few months and simply re-enrol when they're ready. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. If you want your child back at the same school, you'll need to apply for a place like any other new pupil — and there might not be one available.

The rules and processes differ slightly across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but this basic principle applies everywhere in the UK.

Reasons Parents Consider Temporary Deregistration

Parents explore this option for various reasons:

• Extended family travel — wanting to take children abroad for several months

• Mental health and wellbeing — giving a child time away from school-related stress or anxiety

• Medical recovery — allowing space for treatment or recuperation from illness

• Trialling home education — testing whether home schooling works for the family before fully committing

• Curriculum changes — exploring alternative educational approaches like Montessori (opens in a new tab) or Steiner (opens in a new tab) education

• Family circumstances — supporting a child through difficult personal situations

Whatever your reason, it's important to understand the implications before making any decisions.

What Are the Risks of Deregistering?

Deregistering your child isn't something to rush into. Here are the main risks:

• Losing the school place: Once your child is off the roll, the school can fill that place with another pupil. When you're ready to return, you'll need to reapply through the local authority admissions process. Popular schools often have waiting lists.

• Difficulty re-enrolling. If your preferred school is full, your child might be offered a place at a different school, possibly further away or one you wouldn't have chosen.

• Safeguarding concerns. Local authorities monitor children who aren't in school to ensure they're safe and receiving suitable education. You may receive visits or requests for information about your child's education at home.

• Unintended permanent removal. What starts as a temporary plan can become complicated if circumstances change or re-entry proves tricky.

Before deregistering, it's worth seeking advice. Your local authority, education welfare services, or organisations like the Education Otherwise (opens in a new tab) charity, which supports home-educating families, can help. 

What Are Alternatives to Deregistering My Child From School?

Before you deregister, explore these options with your school:

Requesting an Authorised Leave of Absence

Under the Education Act 1996 (opens in a new tab), all children of compulsory school age (typically 5 to 16) must attend school regularly. However, schools can grant time off for exceptional circumstances (opens in a new tab). This might include:

• Serious illness or medical treatment

• Family bereavement

• Religious observances

• Unique opportunities (though rarely extended holidays)

You'll need to request this in writing from the headteacher. Be honest about your reasons and provide any supporting evidence. The headteacher has discretion to approve or deny the request. 

If unauthorised, you may face penalty notices (fines). But - your child keeps their school place. Our article ‘Can I Take My Child Out Of School For A Holiday?’ will give you more information.

Flexi-Schooling

Flexi-schooling is a formal arrangement where your child attends school part-time. They're educated at home for the rest of the week. For example, they might attend Monday to Wednesday and learn at home Thursday and Friday.

Not all schools offer this, and it requires agreement from the headteacher. The arrangement must be documented clearly, with both parties understanding their responsibilities.

Your child remains on the school roll. This means they keep their place and the school continues to monitor their overall education and welfare.

Elective Home Education (EHE)

If you decide to take full responsibility for your child's education, you can elect to home educate. This is a legal right in the UK. You don't need teaching qualifications or to follow the National Curriculum.

However, you must provide a suitable full-time education. Your local authority may contact you to check your child is receiving appropriate education. Be aware that the process varies by region.

With EHE, you formally deregister from school (unless your child attends a special school, where you need local authority permission first). This isn't temporary. If you want to return to school later, you'll go through the standard admissions process.

If you’re thinking of homeschooling, our guide to home education will also help get you started.

Country-by-Country Considerations

Education law varies across the UK:

• England: Parents can deregister by writing to the headteacher (except for special schools). Local authorities must be informed and may monitor home education. Authorised absences are granted at the headteacher's discretion. Flexi-schooling is possible but not mandatory for schools to offer.

• Wales: Similar to England, though the Welsh Government (opens in a new tab) provides specific guidance on EHE. 

• Scotland: The Scottish (opens in a new tab) system differs more significantly. Parents must seek consent from the education authority before withdrawing a child aged 5-16 from school. Contact your local council's education department for guidance specific to Scotland.

• Northern Ireland: Parents can home educate, but must notify the Education Authority. Deregistration rules are similar to England, but it's worth checking details with the Education Authority NI (opens in a new tab).

Talking to the School: What to Ask

If you're considering any changes to your child's schooling, start with an open conversation with the school. Speak to the headteacher, deputy head, or inclusion lead.

Questions to ask:

• Does the school have a flexi-schooling policy? Some schools are open to part-time arrangements; others have never considered it.

• Can we request authorised leave for our circumstances? Explain your situation honestly and ask what evidence or documentation would help.

• What are the re-enrolment policies if we deregister? Understand clearly that there's no guarantee of getting the place back.

• Who should I speak to about home education? The school may be able to point you toward local authority contacts or support groups.

• Are there other options we haven't considered? Schools sometimes have experience with similar situations and can suggest alternatives.

Go into the conversation with an open mind. Schools want what's best for children and may be more flexible than you expect. Or, they may help you see potential complications you hadn't thought about.

During the absence, Save My Exams has the resources your child will need to keep on top of their schooling. We provide 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, your child won’t have to waste time and energy on guesswork.

We also have a guide to home educating for GCSEs, home educating for IGCSEs, and a guide to home educating for A Levels to help with specific levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take my child out of school for a few weeks?

You can request authorised absence for exceptional circumstances. But holidays and travel are rarely approved. If you take your child out without permission, they remain on the school roll but the absence is recorded as unauthorised. You may face a penalty notice (fine) of £60-£120 per parent, per child.

Will I be fined for temporary withdrawal?

If you formally deregister to home educate, there are no fines. Home education is legal. However, if you keep your child off school without deregistering and without authorised absence, you may face fines and potentially further legal action for truancy.

Can I home educate temporarily and re-enrol later?

Legally, yes — but practically, it depends on school availability. Once you deregister, you're treated like any new applicant when you want to return. If the school is full, your child may be placed elsewhere. Some families successfully return to their previous school. Others find themselves on waiting lists or attending different schools.

Final Thoughts

The idea of temporarily stepping away from school can feel like the perfect solution when your family needs flexibility. But the reality is that the UK education system doesn't have a neat "pause button."

Deregistration is permanent, and while home education is a valid and legal choice, it's a serious commitment that shouldn't be made lightly or as a short-term fix.

The good news? There are other routes. Many schools are willing to work with families facing genuine challenges. An honest conversation about authorised absence or flexi-schooling might open the right doors. And if you do choose Elective Home Education, there's a supportive community and plenty of resources to help you along the way.

Whatever path you're considering, take your time. Talk to your school, contact your local authority, and reach out to organisations who can offer guidance. 

Your child's education matters, and so does making the decision that's truly right for your family.

References 

• What is Montessori? (opens in a new tab)

• The Steiner approach - THE EDUCATION HUB (opens in a new tab)

• Education Otherwise (opens in a new tab)

• School attendance and absence: Overview - (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)

• Education Act 1996 (opens in a new tab)

• Elective home education guidance | (opens in a new tab)GOV.WALES (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 | Education Authority Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)