Part 2: Step-by-Step Deregistration

If your child has NEVER been enrolled at school:

You don't need to do anything. There is no registration requirement (under current law). You are already legally home educating by default. The LA may become aware of your child through GP records, benefits claims, or other services, and may contact you — but you are not required to register.

If your child IS currently enrolled:

1. Write a deregistration letter to the headteacher
2. Send by recorded delivery (proof of receipt is essential)
3. Keep a copy with the postal receipt
4. The school MUST remove your child from the roll under Regulation 8(1)(d) of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006
5. The school will notify the local authority
6. The LA will contact you — typically within 2-6 weeks

Deregistration letter (comprehensive version):

What if the school tries to refuse?

They can't. The law is clear. But some schools do try to delay or discourage. Common tactics and responses:

• "You need to come in for a meeting first" → You don't. The letter is sufficient. "Thank you, but my decision is final. Please process the deregistration."
• "We need to inform social services" → Choosing to home educate is not a safeguarding concern. If they do refer, cooperate calmly — it will be closed quickly.
• "Can you wait until the end of term?" → You can deregister at any time. You don't need to wait.
• "Your child will lose their place" → True — but you can reapply for a school place at any time if home education doesn't work out. Admissions are through the normal process.

Part 3: Dealing with the Local Authority

What the LA can legally do:

• Write to you asking for information about your educational provision (Section 437 Education Act 1996)
• Make informal enquiries to satisfy themselves education is suitable
• Issue a formal notice under Section 437(1) requiring you to demonstrate suitability
• Issue a School Attendance Order if they are not satisfied (Section 437(3))

What the LA CANNOT do (under current law):

• Enter your home without your consent
• Demand to see or speak to your child
• Require evidence in any specific format
• Dictate your curriculum or approach
• Require regular inspections or assessments
• Insist on home visits

Three-level response strategy:

Level 1: Written report (recommended for most families)

Level 2: If the LA pushes back

Level 3: If they issue a Section 437(1) notice

A formal notice under Section 437(1) requires you to demonstrate within a set period (usually 15 working days) that your child is receiving a suitable education. At this point, we strongly recommend:

• Seek advice from Education Otherwise (educationotherwise.org) or your local home ed support network
• Provide a detailed written response with specific examples of educational provision
• Consider whether a one-off meeting at a neutral venue would resolve the issue
• If a School Attendance Order is issued, you have the right to challenge it at a Magistrates' Court

Part 4: Curriculum Deep-Dives

Charlotte Mason in practice:

• Short lessons: 15-20 minutes per subject for under-9s, building to 30-45 minutes for older children
• Living books: Real literature instead of textbooks. For history: historical fiction and primary sources. For science: real accounts of discovery.
• Narration: After reading a passage, the child tells back what they heard — their own version, not word for word. This builds comprehension, memory, and communication skills.
• Nature journal: Regular outdoor study with sketching, observation, and seasonal tracking
• Free resources: Ambleside Online (amblesideonline.org) — a complete free Charlotte Mason curriculum

Unschooling in practice:

• Follow the child's interests completely. If they're obsessed with Minecraft, that IS the curriculum — architecture, resource management, geometry, teamwork, coding (with mods)
• Your role: facilitator, not teacher. Provide resources, create opportunities, ask questions, and trust the process
• Keep a log of what they do naturally — you'll be amazed at how much learning happens without formal instruction
• Read: "Free to Learn" by Peter Gray, "How Children Learn" by John Holt

Structured/exam-focused:

• IGCSEs (Cambridge or Edexcel) — popular with home educators because most are 100% exam-based, no coursework
• Exam centres: Search "private candidate exam centres [your area]" or contact local schools and colleges
• Registration: Usually opens October for summer exams. Fees £30-100 per subject
• Resources: CGP revision guides, Save My Exams, Physics & Maths Tutor (all free), Seneca Learning (free)

Part 5: SEND and Home Education

You can absolutely home educate a child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The same legal right applies.

• If your child has an EHCP, the LA retains its duty under Section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to ensure the provision in the plan is met
• You can request that the EHCP is amended to reflect home education provision
• The LA must review the EHCP annually, even if the child is home educated
• You may be able to access some services specified in the EHCP (e.g. speech therapy, occupational therapy) even while home educating — discuss with your LA's SEND team
• The IPSEA website (ipsea.org.uk) provides free legal advice on SEND and education

Part 6: Record-Keeping

You're not legally required to keep records, but it's strongly recommended:

• Weekly/daily tracker: What you did, what resources you used, what your child was interested in (see our Home Ed Weekly Planner)
• Monthly reflection: What went well, what didn't, what to try next month
• Photos: Take pictures of projects, art, experiments, outings. These are powerful evidence of learning.
• Book lists: Track what your child reads — this is compelling evidence of literacy development
• Correspondence: Keep copies of all letters to/from the LA, school, and any professionals