Parents have a duty to ensure that their children receive a suitable full time education either by regular attendance at school or otherwise (Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996). Some parents decide, as they are entitled to do, to provide suitable education by educating their children at home. When they withdraw their children from school to do this, they must inform the school in writing.

Although children and young people with statements of special educational needs can be home educated, the LEA remains responsible for ensuring that the education the child receives is suitable. The statement must stay in force and the LEA must ensure that parents can make suitable provision, including providing for their child’s special educational needs. If the parent’s arrangements are suitable, the LEA is relieved of their duty to arrange the provision directly, but it still remains the LEA’s duty to ensure the child’s needs are met.

There is no statutory requirement for home-educating parents to register their child with LEAs, Nor is there any statutory requirement for LEAs to allocate a Unique Pupil Numbers (UPN) to home-educated children, but they are encouraged to do so where possible as these children are still effectively within their sphere of responsibility.

LEAs can intervene if they have reason to believe that parents are not providing a suitable education and may issue a School Attendance Order (SAO). (Under section 437(1) of the Education Act 1996). LEAs may apply to court for a Child Assessment under the Children Act 1989 if they have reasonable cause to do so.

The Connexions Service is for all children and young people aged 13-19 years, living in England, its services and responsibilities cover children and young people who are being educated at home.

There are no funds directly available from central Government for parents who decide to home-educate their children but the Department provides a fact sheet sent on request and available on our Parent Centre website. Local education authorities (LEAs) have no legal duty to provide financial support to parents who elect to home educate their children. However, some LEAs do provide free national curriculum materials and other support to parents but the level and extent of such support is decided locally, based on the Authority’s own policies and the needs of the child.
The internal assessment component of many standard qualification courses such as Standard Grades, National Qualifications and GCSEs can restrict the choice available to home educated students. The DCSF are currently looking at the problems of access by home educated children under 16 to further education, examinations and accreditations.