Considerations
Start by considering why you want to home educate, and what your desired outcome is.
By asking these questions it will become clearer what style of education will best suit you and your child. This will indicate what resources you need.
The law does not define education, so long as the education can be said to be –
- efficient
- full time
- suitable to –
- ability
- aptitude
- any special educational needs.
This is all that the law (S7 The Education Act 1996) requires an education to be, and nowhere is this further defined. This endorses the potential for individual circumstances and interpretation to endlessly create new ways of achieving this goal.
Each family will find out for themselves what works for them.
If your child has never attended school, no permission or notification is required. If your child already attends a school, inform the headteacher of your decision in writing to take your child off the school register. This is in order to home educate them.
The school will inform us of your decision. Non-attendance at school without permission while still registered at the school may result in a penalty notice being issued. This is because it is unauthorised absence from school.
Only if your child already attends a special school or is subject to a School Attendance Order is our permission needed.