Starting Homeschool - How to Start Home Education in England

Are you thinking about home educating your child?

Perhaps your child hasn't started school yet and you're wondering whether to actually send them?

Maybe they're already at school, and you're considering removing them?

Or perhaps you've been thinking about homeschooling for a while, but every time you search for information, you end up stressed and confused?

There are a lot of questions: 

* Do I need permission?

* What am I actually supposed to teach?

* Will the council come to my house? 

* Do I have to follow the National Curriculum?

* How many hours do I have to do?

* And, perhaps most importantly: Can I actually do this?

If you're in England, the short answer is yes, you can choose to educate your child at home. It's commonly called home education, homeschooling or elective home education (EHE).

But before you get overly excited and spend a month's wages on workbooks and stationery, there are a few things you need to understand. Home education gives you an enormous amount of freedom — and a huge amount of responsibility.

What actually is home education?

Home education simply means that your child is being educated outside of school. You don't have to recreate school in your dining room. You don't need desks, whiteboards or teaching qualifications, and you don't have to follow the National Curriculum.

Home education can look completely different from one family to another. One family might use textbooks and workbooks every morning. Another might learn through books, projects and practical activities. Another might spend the morning doing maths and English and the afternoon at a museum. Someone else might spend several months studying one particular topic because that's what their child is fascinated by.

There isn't one correct way to do it. There isn't one size fits all. And that's kind of the point!

For example, I choose to follow the National Curriculum for Maths, English and Science with my own three children because they want to go to college and eventually take GCSEs. But that's a choice I've made for our family — it's not a legal requirement for home educators.

Do I need permission to homeschool?

For most families, No.

If your child has never attended school, you don't need to apply for permission to home educate them. 

If your child is already attending a mainstream school and you decide to withdraw them completely for home education, you generally 'notify the school rather than ask for permission'.

You're saying: "I have decided to educate my child at home rather than at school." 

 You're not saying: "Please can I homeschool my child?"

There are exceptions to the usual rules, including certain children attending special schools and children subject to particular safeguarding or attendance arrangements.

That's why I've created this series — so you don't have to try and work everything out from one article. I'll take you through each situation separately.

But do I actually have to teach my child? YES. Yes you do.

This is probably the most important thing to understand before you begin. In England, education is compulsory, but school isn't the only way to provide it.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that a child of compulsory school age receives a suitable, efficient, full-time education appropriate to their age, ability and any special educational needs they may have. 

So home education isn't: "My child doesn't have to go to school, we can all just sit on our butts all day watching TV."

You don't have to recreate school — but you do have to educate. I don't believe children need to spend six hours a day sitting at a desk to receive a good education.

I don't think every lesson needs a worksheet. I don't think every activity needs to be assessed. And I certainly don't think you need to turn your home into a miniature classroom.

But I do believe children need to be educated. You can have a relaxed, child-centred and creative education while still deliberately teaching your child. You can follow their interests. You can learn outdoors. You can use documentaries and educational videos. You can cook, build, experiment, visit museums and spend an entire afternoon researching something your child has suddenly become obsessed with.

Do I have to follow the National Curriculum?

No. The National Curriculum is what maintained schools in England are required to teach.

Home educators aren't required to follow it. You can choose your own resources, subjects and approach. You can follow a published curriculum, create your own, combine different resources or take a project-based approach. 

You can have a very traditional academic education at home, a completely different approach, or a mixture of everything. However, not following the National Curriculum does not mean that you don't need to provide a suitable education.

Where to go next -

I've broken the rest of this guide into smaller, practical posts so you can work through one question at a time.

My Child Has Never Started School — How Do I Homeschool From the Beginning?

What to do if you're choosing home education instead of sending your child to school, including compulsory school age, Reception, early learning and getting started. 

 → Read: Home Educating a Child Who Has Never Started School - 

🍁 Coming Soon 🌿

How to Deregister Your Child From School for Homeschooling

Exactly what to do if your child is already at school, including a copy-and-paste deregistration letter and what happens after you send it.

→ Read: How to Deregister Your Child From School for Homeschooling - 

🍁 Coming Soon 🌿

Does the Council Check Homeschoolers?

What happens after you start home educating, including council contact, informal enquiries, reports, home visits and the new legislation.

→ Read: Does the Council Check Homeschoolers?- 🍁 Coming Soon 🌿

What Do You Actually Have to Teach When Homeschooling?

What "suitable education" means and how to make sure you're providing a genuine education without recreating school at home.

→ Read: What Do You Actually Have to Teach When Homeschooling? - 

🍁 Coming Soon 🌿

Do Homeschoolers Have to Follow the National Curriculum?

No — but what can you do instead? 

 → Read: Do Homeschoolers Have to Follow the National Curriculum? - 

🍁 Coming Soon 🌿

How Many Hours a Day Do You Have to Homeschool?

What "full-time education" actually means and why home education doesn't need to look like the school day. 

 → Read: How Many Hours a Day Do You Have to Homeschool? - 🍁 Coming Soon 🌿

How to Plan Your Homeschool

Curriculums, resources, routines, timetables and actually putting your first few weeks together. 

 → Read: How to Plan Your Homeschool -🍁 Coming Soon 🌿

A final word before you start

If you're sitting there wondering whether you're capable of doing this, I completely understand. It is a big responsibility. But you don't have to know everything before you begin.

You don't have to be a teacher. You don't have to recreate school. You don't have to get everything right. You just need to be prepared to take responsibility for your child's education, learn alongside them and adapt as you go.

For me, that's what home education is really about.

Not opting out of education just choosing a different route through it. 

You can teach your child properly without turning your home into a school. You can give them structure without taking away their freedom. You can follow their interests without abandoning the things they need to learn. And you can give them an education that is genuinely theirs.

Welcome to home education!

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