How to Deregister from School and Start Homeschooling in the UK
Changing from a normal school to home schooling can feel really overwhelming. Even more so if your children vary a lot in age and ability.
However, you are certainly not alone in doing this. Home schooling is on the rise and many, many parents are finding that traditional schooling just does not work for their children anymore.
Families across the UK are choosing to take learning into their own hands, often because they want a more flexible, personalised, or supportive approach to education.
So please, whatever you are feeling and whatever struggles you are facing, understand that support is available and there are lots of like-minded parents that you can connect with.
If your child is currently in primary or secondary school and you’re ready to start homeschooling, this guide will walk you through the steps to deregister from school and begin your home education journey with confidence.
Step 1: Understand Your Legal Right to Home Educate
In the UK, home education is a legal and respected option. You don’t need to be a qualified teacher, and you don’t need to follow the National Curriculum. However, your child must receive a “full-time” education that is suitable for their age, ability, and any special educational needs.
Please note that the beauty of homeschooling is that you if you take out time the time that you used to spend getting ready for school in the mornings, driving through traffic, time spent in assemblies, tutor, breaks, lunch breaks, settling time in class, time waiting for the teacher to help the other 29 children before your child actually got the help they needed…you will find that 2 – 4 hours per day will probably be plenty to cover the mainstream curriculum if that’s what you will be using.
Also the mainstream curriculum is deliberately designed to take around 12 years to cover, it is paced every year so that students only cover a small amount of content every school year.
However if you look at the content, the change each year is very small and it certainly does not take 12 years to learn the content, this is why many homeschooled children are able to complete at least a few GCSEs by the time they are around 12 years old.
So if you want your children to the GCSE exams, why not stagger them over their teenage years instead of waiting until they are 16 and trying to complete all 12 in one sitting. I will write more about this in another article.
Step 2: Write a Deregistration Letter
If your child is currently attending a mainstream school in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, the first step is to write a formal deregistration letter to the headteacher. This letter should state your intention to home educate and request that your child’s name is removed from the school roll.
Here’s a simple template you can use:
Sample Deregistration Letter:
Dear [Headteacher’s Name],
I am writing to inform you that I have decided to withdraw my child, [Child’s Full Name], from [School Name] in order to home educate him/her in accordance with Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
I would be grateful if you could confirm that you have received this instruction and removed [enter
Child’s Name here] from the roll in accordance with The School Attendance (Pupil Registration)
(England) Regulations 2024 r(9)(1)(f)Kind regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
Once this letter is received, the school must remove your child from their roll. You don’t need permission, and you don’t need to wait for approval.
⚠️ Note: If your child attends a special school under an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan), you will need permission from the local authority before deregistration.
Step 3: Prepare for Home Education
Once deregistered, you are officially responsible for your child’s education. But don’t panic—home education is incredibly flexible, and there are many different approaches you can take.
Please do not simply recreate school at home, a rigid 9am to 3pm timetable with yourself is most likely not going to be a good idea. A relaxed approach where you and your children decide together what their education should look like and agreed schedules with free time and time to pursue their own interests will be much less stressful for everybody.
One of your main aims with home schooling should be to spend fun time together as a family, especially in the weeks and months straight after deregistration.
Here are a few things to consider as you get started:
- Find Your Approach: From structured timetables to unschooling, explore what might work best for your family.
- Connect with Others: Join local or online home ed groups for support, ideas, and friendship.
- Start Gently: You don’t need to replicate school at home. Many families take several weeks or months to de-school and adjust.
- Keep Records (if you want): While not mandatory, keeping a record of your child’s learning can be useful, especially if the local authority makes contact.
What About the Local Authority?
After deregistration, the local authority may get in touch to ask how you’re providing a suitable education. You are not required to follow the National Curriculum, but your education should be full-time and appropriate to your child’s needs. You can respond to their inquiry with a written educational philosophy or an outline of your plans.
You are not required to allow home visits or provide samples of work unless you choose to. You can communicate by letter or email instead.
I highly recommend keeping all communication in writing.
The LA may try and come to your house unannounced or really push for pre arranged home visits. Again, its not recommended to let them in and nor do you have to.
Legally they have very little power to do anything, though they may try and make it sound like it in their communication with you.
Here is a much more thorough article on dealing with the Local Authority from educationalfreedom.org.uk https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/dealing-with-the-local-authority
Final Thoughts
Deregistering from school can feel like a leap into the unknown, but thousands of families do it every year—and thrive. Home education allows for a personalised, child-led, and often more relaxed approach to learning. Whether your child needs a break from the pressures of school or you want more freedom and connection in your family life, this path is completely valid.
You’ve taken the first step—now enjoy the journey.