Is it legal to home educate?
Yes - it absolutely is legal to home educate your child and if your child has never been at school, you are not currently obliged to inform the local authority. If you have taken your child out of school, the Education Otherwise (EO) website has examples of draft letters that you can use to de-register your child. You need only inform the school; it is the school's responsibility to inform the Local Authority (LA).
The LA may make contact with you within the first six weeks and ask for a visit and an annual report. CHEF members have volunteered to successfully facilitate positive liaison between the LA and local HE families which has contributed to a supportive atmosphere for home education in Cambridgeshire. You are under no obligation to accept visits simply for the purposes of monitoring the provision of home education. Most families in this area have found their contact with the LA to be straightforward.
The LA is only legally allowed to make enquiries about the parents' 'provision' and not the child's standard. The law states that the parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause them to receive efficient full time education suitable: (a) to their age, ability and aptitude, and (b) to any special educational needs they may have either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
The LA may make contact with you within the first six weeks and ask for a visit and an annual report. CHEF members have volunteered to successfully facilitate positive liaison between the LA and local HE families which has contributed to a supportive atmosphere for home education in Cambridgeshire. You are under no obligation to accept visits simply for the purposes of monitoring the provision of home education. Most families in this area have found their contact with the LA to be straightforward.
The LA is only legally allowed to make enquiries about the parents' 'provision' and not the child's standard. The law states that the parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause them to receive efficient full time education suitable: (a) to their age, ability and aptitude, and (b) to any special educational needs they may have either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
Further information
Education Otherwise (EO), PO Box 7420, London NG 9SG. Helpline: 0870 730 0074.
Website: education-otherwise.org
HE-UK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEUKForum/
Fiona Nicholson’s Ed Yourself website: edyourself.org
Home Education UK: www.facebook.com/groups/Homeeducationuk/
HEAS (Home Education Advisory Service): http://www.heas.org.uk
Website run by a local home educator: https://www.thecambridgehomeeducator.com/
Website: education-otherwise.org
HE-UK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEUKForum/
Fiona Nicholson’s Ed Yourself website: edyourself.org
Home Education UK: www.facebook.com/groups/Homeeducationuk/
HEAS (Home Education Advisory Service): http://www.heas.org.uk
Website run by a local home educator: https://www.thecambridgehomeeducator.com/
