Considering Home Education? Start Here

Thinking about it? You're not alone

Whatever brought you here — school isn't working, you want more time together, or you're just curious — you're in good company, and it's grown fast. Estimated at around 37,500 children in England in 2016, elective home education had reached about 126,000 by autumn 2025 — roughly 1.5% of school-age children — and the numbers keep rising. You probably have more questions than barriers, and we'll answer the big ones today.

Is home education right for your family? A checklist to think about

No single reason to home educate, no single family type that does it. Here's what to consider:

Your reason for considering it:

• School isn't meeting your child's needs (anxiety, bullying, boredom, pace)
• Your child has SEND or is neurodivergent and a mainstream classroom isn't the right fit — home ed lets you adapt the pace, environment, and approach
• More family time or choice in how they learn
• Special interests or talents needing attention
• Freedom to learn on your own schedule — term-time holidays cost less, and weekday visits to museums and attractions are far quieter and more relaxed
• Family values, lifestyle, or circumstances

Time and work reality:

• Can one parent be home most days? (Or do you have a co-op / flex-hours plan?)
• If both full-time, do you have another caregiver or support?
• You don't have to stop working — many home-ed parents work part-time, or from home on flexible hours. That gets easier as children grow more independent, and on working days they can do more self-led or online learning (platforms like Home Ed Stars help here).

Your child's needs:

• What's the actual struggle or opportunity? (Anxiety, giftedness, SEND or neurodivergence, bullying, pace?)
• How do they handle change?

Socialising and activities:

• Home ed groups, clubs, or communities nearby?
• Existing friendships outside school?

Money and space:

• Space to learn (even a corner)?
• Budget for resources, or free only?

Your confidence:

• Comfortable learning alongside your child?
• OK with not knowing everything?
• Can you keep simple records to show suitability?

Most families say "yes to some, no to others" — that's normal. Home education bends to your reality.

The big questions, quickly answered

Got a specific question? Here are the ones we hear most, with links to the full guides.

Is it legal? Yes. Legal right under the Education Act 1996. Full guide →

Do I have to tell the local authority? No formal form — de-registering from school is your notification. Registration detail →

How do I take my child out of school? Write formally requesting de-registration. No permission needed. Step-by-step guide →

Do I need to be a teacher? No. Education just needs to be "suitable" — no qualifications needed. Tools like Home Ed Stars do the lesson planning and create the content for you, so you don't need to be a qualified teacher.

What about GCSEs? Home-educated children take GCSEs as private candidates. Register with an exam centre, pay per subject (£45–100), sit exams normally. Full details →

Is it expensive? It's up to you — from almost nothing using free resources to a few hundred pounds a month if you add tutors and courses. Many families keep it to around £40–£125 a month. Cost breakdown →

The worries you probably have

Worried you're not doing enough, or about socialising, qualifications, or cost? You're not alone — see common worries & myths for the reassuring reality.

Your first steps if you're considering it

1. 1. Read the legal facts

   Understand what the law actually says. Start here →

2. 2. Think about your 'why'

   Why home education? What problem are you solving? Jot down a few notes.

3. 3. Talk to families doing it

   Find a local group, Facebook community, or online space. Podcasts like Home Education Matters let you hear honest, real-family stories while on the go — there are lots out there. Real families beat any guide.

4. 4. Understand de-registration

   If ready, you'll formally request to pull out of school. Step-by-step guide →

5. 5. Get the legal detail

   Registration, notification, local authority rights. Here →

6. 6. Rough out the reality

   Costs, time, space, family support. What families actually do →

7. 7. If GCSEs are on your horizon

   How exams work, costs, timings. Guide →

The hardest part

Most people think it's the teaching. Actually, it's permission — giving yourself permission to do something different. To trust your child will learn. To not recreate school. To ignore other people's worry. Nearly every home educating family says: once I got over the worry, it was the best decision we made.

What comes next

Read one of the guides and talk to families doing this. Home education is as real and valid as school — just different. The fact you're asking questions means you're taking your child's education seriously. That's where it starts.