If you have decided to home educate a child who is currently on a school roll, the process itself is simpler than many parents expect, though the terminology and paperwork can feel unfamiliar the first time. This guide walks through exactly how to deregister a child from a mainstream school in England, including a sample letter you can adapt, the exceptions that apply to special school pupils, and what happens after the school receives your letter.
We also cover the informal contact most local authorities make after deregistration, and what you are, and are not, required to do once your child is off the school roll.
Who can deregister a child, and who needs permission first
For the great majority of children at mainstream schools in England, deregistration is a parental right, not something that requires school or local authority approval. You do not need to explain your reasons in detail, seek the school’s agreement, or wait for a response before your child stops attending.
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Child at a mainstream school, no attendance order in place | Parent can deregister by letter to the headteacher; no permission needed |
| Child at a special school | Local authority consent is required before the child can be removed from the school roll |
| Child subject to a School Attendance Order | Local authority consent is required, and the order may need to be formally revoked |
| Child subject to certain court orders (for example some care or supervision arrangements) | Additional legal considerations may apply; seek specific advice for your situation |
Sample deregistration letter template
There is no single mandatory wording for a deregistration letter, but it should clearly state your intention, your child’s details, and the date from which you are removing them from the roll. The template below can be adapted and sent to the headteacher, ideally by a method that gives you proof of sending.
Send the letter in writing, keep a copy, and consider requesting confirmation of receipt, since the date the school receives your letter is what triggers their 10 school day notification duty to the local authority.
What happens after you send the letter
- The school removes your child from its admissions register once it has received your written notice, without requiring your child to attend any further sessions in most cases
- The school is legally required to notify the local authority that your child has been removed from roll within 10 school days
- The local authority adds your child to its records of children believed to be receiving home education
- Most local authorities will then make informal contact, often by letter, to introduce their elective home education (EHE) team and explain what support and informal enquiry process is available
The local authority’s informal enquiry process
Local authorities in England have a duty to make reasonable enquiries to satisfy themselves that home-educated children are receiving a suitable, full-time education, but this does not amount to an inspection or approval process in the way school inspections work.
- Most local authorities offer, rather than require, an informal visit or meeting to discuss your educational approach
- You are not legally required to follow the National Curriculum, use a fixed timetable, or allow a home visit, though cooperating with reasonable requests for information generally makes the process smoother
- If a local authority has genuine concerns that a suitable education is not being provided, it has powers to investigate further, and in rare cases can issue a School Attendance Order, but this is not the default outcome of deregistration
The Department for Education’s 2019 guidance for local authorities sets out how councils are expected to approach these enquiries proportionately and without assuming home education is automatically a cause for concern.
What you are, and are not, required to do
| Requirement | Status in England |
|---|---|
| Provide a suitable, full-time education | Legally required under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 |
| Follow the National Curriculum | Not required; you can design your own approach |
| Register your home education plan with the local authority | Not required, though the school’s notification effectively informs the LA that home education is taking place |
| Allow a home visit from the local authority | Not compulsory, though refusing all contact can sometimes prompt closer scrutiny |
| Enter your child for GCSEs or other exams | Not compulsory; entirely a family choice |
| Submit regular reports or portfolios to the local authority | Not required in England, unlike in some other countries |
Common reasons families choose to deregister
Local authorities and home education support groups report a wide range of reasons families choose to deregister, and understanding the common patterns can help you explain your own decision clearly if asked, though you are never obliged to justify your reasons in detail.
- Bullying or wellbeing concerns that have not been resolved through the school’s usual processes
- Additional needs not being met, including where a suitable Education, Health and Care Plan placement is not yet in place
- A wish for a more flexible, individually paced or values-led approach to education than a mainstream school can offer
- Practical circumstances, such as a family relocating frequently, travelling, or a child pursuing sport, performance or another activity alongside education
Planning your child’s education after deregistration
Once your child is off the school roll, the practical work of home education begins: deciding on a curriculum approach, structuring learning time, and, if relevant, planning towards GCSEs or other qualifications as a private candidate.
For a broader introduction to getting started, see our guide on how to homeschool in the UK, and for the full legal picture behind your rights and responsibilities, see home education law in the UK.