Starting Homeschool - Does the Council Check Homeschoolers?

(Updated September 2026)

One of the things that worries parents when they first start looking into home education is the thought of the council checking up on them. Will someone come to your house? Do you have to prove what your child is learning? Will someone come round and judge whether your homeschool is "good enough"?

The short answer is: your local authority may contact you, but that doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. If you're genuinely educating your child, it's not something I'd be overly worried about.

Why might the council contact you?

When a child leaves school to be home educated, the school normally tells the local authority. The council can then make enquiries to establish whether your child is receiving a suitable education. This is partly about education and partly about safeguarding. Children who aren't attending school aren't being seen regularly by teachers and other professionals, so there needs to be some way of identifying children who may be receiving no education or who may be at risk. And honestly, I don't think that's an unreasonable thing.

Most home-educating families are doing exactly what they should be doing. The government's own explanation of the new legislation recognises this, saying that most parents who home educate do so in their children's best interests. But there will always be children who genuinely need someone to notice that something isn't right.

What does a council check actually involve?

This varies between local authorities. You might receive a letter or email asking about your child's education. You may be asked to provide an update or examples of what your child has been learning. Some councils may offer or request a meeting. And some home educators do have home visits.

One UK parent who shared their recent experience described being contacted within days of deregistering. Their education officer visited the following month, looked at some of their child's work and talked about what they were doing. They described it as a straightforward visit focused on making sure their child was okay and receiving age-appropriate, varied learning.

That's obviously one family's experience rather than a guarantee of what your council will do. Your local authority may handle things differently.

Do they expect your home to look like a school?

No. Home education doesn't have one particular appearance. You might have a desk, timetable and shelves full of workbooks. Or you might do most of your learning around the kitchen table, in the garden, at the library, on walks and out in the community. What matters is the education, not whether your house looks like a classroom. You should, however, be able to explain what you're doing. If somebody asks how your child is being educated, you should be able to say something more substantial than "they learn through life".

There needs to be actual education taking place.

What about the new home education laws?

This is where things are changing. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 has now become law. It introduces a new 'Children Not in School register', which will eventually mean that local authorities have a much clearer picture of children being educated outside school. The new legislation also gives local authorities powers to consider a child's home and other learning environments and request a home visit in certain circumstances.

However, these new measures are not currently in force. The Department for Education confirmed in April 2026 that, although the Act had passed, implementation would not be immediate and that the existing legislation and guidance should continue to be followed in the meantime.

So if you've seen frightening headlines about mandatory registration or council home visits, check when the information was published. The law has changed. The new system is still being implemented.

Should you be worried about the council?

Personally, I wouldn't let this put me off home education. A council asking what education you're providing doesn't automatically mean they suspect you of anything. And if you're genuinely educating your child, you should have something to show them. You don't need a perfect homeschool, you don't need to follow the National Curriculum, you don't need to have a beautifully organised school room.

But you do need to take responsibility for your child's education.

That's the deal you take on when you choose home education. And actually, I'm okay with them checking.

I know some home educators feel very strongly that the council shouldn't have any involvement at all. I can understand why. Your home is your private space, and home education can be wonderfully personal and very different from school.

But I also think safeguarding matters. There are children who are neglected, abused or simply not being educated properly. If taking children out of school means that nobody ever checks whether those children are okay, some of them could disappear completely from view. That's not something I'd want.

For me, the important thing is that home education shouldn't be treated as suspicious simply because it happens outside school. If you're teaching your child, helping them learn and taking your responsibility seriously, a council enquiry isn't something I'd lose sleep over. Keep a few examples of their work. Keep notes if that helps you. Know what you're teaching and why. Then if someone asks, you can simply show them. You're not hiding your child. You're educating them and there's a pretty big difference.

*This post is about elective home education in England. The Children Not in School provisions introduced by the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 are not yet in force as of September 2026, so the rules may change as implementation progresses.*

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 

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

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 🌿

Or find the full 'Starting Homeschool' series here.

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