So... you've researched the topic fully, and you're fairly sure your child would benefit from home education. But how do you actually get started?

Pre-'school' age children

If you live anywhere in the UK, and your child has never been to school, and you have not applied for entry at any school, you don't need to do anything. It is your right to choose how to educate your child, and you need not inform anybody. 

If your child is under 5, and his or her name is down for entry at a local school, it's a good idea to phone the secretary and explain that your arrangements are changing, so his name can be removed. This is a courtesy, not a requirement, since you could have put him down for several schools, or be moving away. You have no obligation to explain what other arrangements you are making.

If you have formally accepted a place for your child at a local school, in writing, then you should write a further letter, informing the school that you no longer require the place. Again, you have no need to let them know that you are intending to start home education; a vague 'making other arrangements' is sufficient. You could even say, with truth, that you are planning to 'educate your child privately'.

If your child has attended a nursery class attached to a school, he may automatically have his name entered on the register in the school, although he is not technically 'registered' until the first day he starts in the Reception class.

Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that his name is removed from the school register. You don't need to send a formal de-registration letter, as you would if he had already attended school (see below) but you do need to let the school know, in writing, that the place will not be required. It may also be worth having a word with the school secretary, to ensure that your child's name is actually removed from the register if necessary.

If you see a health visitor, or if your child has been to a playgroup, and you are being asked questions about your child's education, you might want to think of some confident replies that won't get you involved in a lengthy discussion.

Reading the book 'Free Range Education' (see Books about home education for details) may give you some ideas. Don't try to be defensive - it's your right to choose how you want your child to be educated, and not the responsibility of the local education authority, or the local school, or the health visitor! It may also be a good idea to talk in terms of a year at a time, rather than worrying about the teenage or exam years.

Many families decided to try home education just until their child was 7 or 8, and then decided to continue. Others decide to make use of the local schools when the child wants to go there. Nothing is final, and it's a good thing to keep options open as far as possible.

Children already in school

If you live in Scotland, you need permission from your education authority in some cases when your children are in school. See the Schoolhouse page about local authority consent.

You also need permission to de-register if your child is in a special school. See the HE-special page about de-registering children with special needs for more details.

If your child is currently in a mainstream school in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you need to de-register with a letter to the proprieter (usually the Head), but you do not need permission to home educate. The letter does not need to be complicated or full of explanations. You don't even need to say that you're planning to home educate if you don't want to. It's your right as parent to provide education appropriate to your child, so a mention of 'alternative arrangements' may be sufficient.

The important point is to ensure that your child is removed from the school register. There are examples of letters that you can use as a basis linked from the Education Otherwise sample letters page.

Once the letter is delivered - and if you're not delivering it by hand, you might want to send it by registered delivery. The school proprieter is obliged to inform the LEA; you do not have to do so.

The Head may ask you into school to discuss your decision. You are not obliged to attend any such meeting, but if you want to stay on good terms with the school (for instance, if your child might wish to return there, or if you have other children attending) you might decide to have a short meeting. It's a good idea not to attack the school system or the particular school, although you may want to refer to any problems your child might have had. If there has been bullying or problems with your child's behaviour, the Head will probably be aware already that you are considering home education.

Dealing with the Local Education Authority (LEA)

At some point the LEA may contact you to enquire about the educational provision for your child. This might be within a few days of deregistering, it might be several months later, or it might not happen at all. In theory, they have no rights since parents are responsible for their children's education; however it has been established by law that they are entitled to make informal enquiries, and that it is best for parents to respond courteously to any such enquiries, within reason.

The Government officially acknowledges that parents have the right to educate children at home, and that the LEA have no duties unless they have evidence that education is not taking place. See the DFES parents' centre, the official advice site for parents wanting to know more about education, and search for 'home education' for some useful information.

Nevertheless some education authorities try and impose regulations, such as asking for lengthy (and often daunting) questionnaires to be filled in, or trying to arrange to meet children within the home. You may feel comfortable about meeting them within your home, but you have no obligation to do this. Nor do you need to reply in detail to any letters within the first few months, since it is well established that children coming out of school need a period of adjustment, or 'de-schooling'. If the LEA does contact you almost immediately, tell them that you will respond more fully when you have had a few months to get settled.

Adjusting life to home educating

During those first months, it's a good idea to observe your child's learning style and interests, and talk with him about how he would like his education to continue. If he has ideas about a future career, consider any qualifications he might need. If he has no ideas, see what he considers essential - if anything. Think, too, about how you would like to discuss his education with the LEA if they approach you with a request for information.

The two most popular approaches are inviting them to your home for a meeting (with or without the children present) or writing a letter. Each involves explaining your educational philosophy. The method you use is up to you: some people are more comfortable meeting strangers and explaining things face-to-face, while others prefer written communication. Whether or not you give them a list of resources you plan to use is up to you. Every home educating family is different.

Note that you are not obliged to follow the National Curriculum, nor to have visits at home from the LEA although you may decide to choose to do either of these. You are not obliged to have a room set aside for educational purposes, nor to have any qualifications, nor to use any specific books or other resources.

To read more about home educational methods and ideas, see my information pages, particularly the one about different styles of home education. To read some articles from newspapers and magazines on the topic of home education, see my media page.