UK Home Education FAQ: Your Questions Answered (2026)

Published 25 June 2026. The clear, honest answers to the questions UK parents ask most about home education, checked against GOV.UK and current legislation. This covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own systems. General information, not legal advice.

Thinking about home educating, or just started? These are the questions we are asked most, answered plainly. Tap through to the detailed guides where you need more.

Is home education legal in the UK?

Yes. Home education is fully legal in England and Wales under section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which makes it a parent’s duty to provide a suitable, full-time education “by regular attendance at school or otherwise”. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own similar laws.

Do I need permission to home educate?

For a child at a mainstream school, no. You give written notice to deregister and do not need the school’s or the council’s permission. The one exception is a special school the local authority placed your child in, which needs the LA’s consent first.

How do I take my child out of school to home educate?

You send a short written deregistration letter to the head teacher stating you are withdrawing your child to educate them at home. The school must then remove your child from the admission register and notify the local authority. See our step-by-step deregistration guide with a letter template.

Do I have to register with the council or the government?

Not at present. There is no live national register you must join today. The 2026 Act will introduce a “children not in school” register, but it is not yet in force.

What does the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 change?

It received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and will eventually bring in a local-authority register of children not in school, a school duty to notify the LA, and LA consent to deregister in safeguarding cases. None of these are in force yet. As at 28 September 2026, sections 37 to 39 of the Act (local authority involvement in withdrawal from school, the register of children not in school, and the new school attendance order rules) are in force only for the purpose of making regulations, so they do not yet apply to families. Full detail in our 2026 Act update.

Do I need teaching qualifications?

No. You do not need any qualifications to home educate your own child.

Do I have to follow the National Curriculum?

No. Home educators are not required to follow the National Curriculum, sit national tests, or replicate school subjects. The only legal requirement is a suitable education for your child’s age, ability and aptitude.

Do we have to keep school hours or use a timetable?

No. There are no required hours or timetable. Many families do two to three focused hours a day plus real-world learning. See our home education timetables guide.

Can the local authority inspect us or visit our home?

Under current law, no. You do not have to allow a home visit or let officials see or speak to your child, and you can respond to enquiries in writing. See responding to the local authority.

What happens after I deregister?

The school removes your child from the register and tells the local authority, which usually makes an informal written enquiry about your provision. This is routine, and it is an enquiry rather than an inspection.

How much does home education cost?

It varies hugely. Many families spend very little using libraries and free resources such as BBC Bitesize, Oak National Academy and White Rose Maths; others buy curricula or tutoring. As a private candidate, expect very roughly £150 to £500 per GCSE, because you pay the exam board fee plus the exam centre charges.

Can I home educate while I work?

Yes, thousands of families do, though it takes planning. Many work part-time or flexibly, share teaching between two parents, or use independent and online learning during working hours.

What about socialisation?

Home-educated children socialise through local home-ed groups, clubs, sports and mixed-age community life rather than only with children their own age. Research consistently finds they develop strong social skills.

Can I home educate a child with SEN or an EHCP?

Yes, you can home educate a child with special educational needs. If they have an EHCP that names a school, or attend a local-authority-arranged special school, speak to the LA first, as different rules can apply.

How do home-educated children sit GCSEs or exams?

Usually as private candidates sitting IGCSEs, which need no school-based coursework, at an exam centre that accepts private candidates. Book early and budget for entry fees. See our guide to home education exams and IGCSEs.

Can home-educated children go to college and university?

Yes. College at 16 is the common next step, and universities accept home-educated applicants, usually via IGCSEs then A-levels or an Access course. Home education closes no doors.

What is deschooling and how long does it take?

Deschooling is a settling-in period after leaving school where you both decompress before any formal learning begins. A common rule of thumb is about one month of deschooling for every year your child spent in school.

Is there any funding or financial help for home educators?

There is no general home-education grant in England, so you fund it yourself. Families on low incomes may still qualify for wider support such as Healthy Start or free holiday activities.

Can my child go back to school later?

Yes. Home education is not permanent. You can apply for a school place through the normal admissions process whenever you choose.

Where do I find home-ed groups and support?

Search Facebook for your town plus “home ed” to find local meet-ups, and contact national organisations like Education Otherwise and Ed Yourself (edyourself.org) for advice and local contacts.

Ready to begin? Our deregistration guide walks you through the first step, and the Complete UK Home Education Starter System gives you every letter, planner and legal guide in one place.