Can I home educate my child?

For parents thinking about teaching their child at home instead of at school.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Yes. In England you can educate your child at home, full time or part time.

You do not need permission if your child is not at school.
If your child is at school, tell the school. It must accept if you take them out completely.
You need the council's permission if your child attends a special school or is at school because of a school attendance order.
Your child must get a full-time education from age 5, but you do not have to follow the national curriculum.

Different in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland: you need council consent to take a child out of a council school.
Northern Ireland: tell the school principal, and tell the Education Authority if your child is at a special school.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

No permission needed in most cases
Special school: council must agree
Full-time education from age 5
No need to follow national curriculum

What home education means

Home education (sometimes called elective home education) is when you choose to teach your child yourself instead of sending them to school. You can do it full time, or part time alongside school. You take on the job of making sure your child learns.

Who it is for

Any parent can choose it. You must make sure your child gets a full-time education from the age of 5. The education must be suitable, but you do not have to follow the national curriculum or a school timetable.

When you need permission

Your child's situation (England)	Permission needed?
Has never been to school	No
At a mainstream school	No, but tell the school
At a mainstream school with an EHC plan	No
At a special school	Yes, from the council
At school because of a school attendance order	Yes, from the council

An EHC plan is an education, health and care plan for children with special educational needs.

How to start

Decide whether you will teach full time or part time.
If your child is at school, tell the school you will educate them at home. If you take them out completely, the school must accept this. It can say no to part-time home education.
If your child is at a special school, or was placed there under a school attendance order, ask the council for permission first.
Plan what and how you will teach. You choose the subjects and methods.

Council checks

Your local council can make an informal enquiry to check your child is getting a suitable education. If it thinks the education is not suitable, it can serve a school attendance order. This is a legal order telling you to register your child at a school.

New law coming

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 changes home education law in England and Wales. It brings in local "children not in school" registers that parents will need to give information to. It also means councils must agree before a child on a child protection plan, or under child protection enquiries, can be taken out of school to be home educated. Not all of this has started yet. In Wales, the Welsh Government says the next government will decide when these parts begin.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Scotland: you need your council's consent to take your child out of a council-run school. You do not need consent if your child has never been to a council school or goes to an independent school.
Wales: the Welsh Government publishes its own guidance for parents and councils on home education. The new Act's changes above also apply in Wales.
Northern Ireland: you must tell the school principal so your child is taken off the roll. Tell the Education Authority if you remove your child from a special school. Children must get a full-time education from age 4 to 16 normally.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Read the GOV.UK home education guide

Common questions

Do I have to follow the national curriculum?

No. Your child must get a full-time education from age 5, but you do not have to follow the national curriculum.

Does an EHC plan stop me home educating?

No. You do not need the council's permission if your child is at a mainstream school, even with an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

Can the council check on us?

Yes. The council can make an informal enquiry and can serve a school attendance order if it thinks your child needs to be taught at school.

Official sources

1.Educating your child at home (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/home-education
2.Home education (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/home-education
3.Educating your child at home (nidirect)www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/educating-your-child-home
4.Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and elective home education (GOV.WALES)www.gov.wales/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-act-2026-and-elective-home-education-html

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

Ask about your situation

Please don't include your name, address, National Insurance number or health details. See our privacy notice.