Home education
If you wish, you may teach your child at home instead of sending him or her to school. This is known as home schooling, home education, elective home education or ‘education otherwise’.

What does home education involve?
- your child’s age, ability and aptitude
- any special educational needs he or she has.
Can any child be educated at home?
If your child has been permanently excluded from school and you ask for him or her to be taught at home, we will discuss this at a meeting held by the pupil placement panel. The panel will talk to you about the result of that meeting.
- has problems with attendance at school
- has been referred to our Youth Offending Team
- is on the child protection register.
Home education: your responsibilities
- send you information about home education
- offer to meet you and your child to talk about your plans for home education.
You can choose how to teach your child and you do not have to follow the national curriculum. But if you wish to use a tutor or a tuition centre, it is your responsibility to check whether the person teaching your child has any criminal convictions. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) can help you to do this.
Health services
Home education: public exams
- find an exam centre willing to take your child as an external candidate
- pay the exam and centre fees.
Staying in touch with us
By law we are required to monitor your child’s progress and wellbeing, so we will ask to meet with you and your child at least once a year, either at your home or at a location of your choice.
Re-enrolling your child in school
Contact us
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Elective Home Education Team
020 8430 2000