Home educating in the UK: where to start

There has been a significant increase in the number of home educating families in the UK over the last five years, with 126,000 children being home educated in the 2022-2023 academic year—a 60% increase from 2018-2019. 

Let’s dive into some of the reasons for home educating and then explore how to get started if you’re considering this for your young family. We asked current home educating parents Emma Beal and Amy Fischer, who are also both Outschool educators, for their views.

Why choose home education?

Many families choose to home educate their kids because of unmet needs at school, kids’ mental health issues, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and family philosophical and lifestyle choices. Flexibility and supporting neurodivergent learners were some of the main motivators for Amy and Emma:

Amy: “I first started considering home education when my first child was a baby. I had lots of conversations with my husband about it over the following years and eventually we just couldn’t see another way to do it! We wanted to maintain a flexible schedule so we could see family overseas, customise the curriculum, and work at the pace of our children.” 

Emma: “It was evident to us at an early age that our eldest son was autistic and would need a different lifestyle than school would offer him. As our other children came along, it became as much of a lifestyle choice as it did a necessity.” 

Legal obligations for home education in the UK

According to the UK Department for Education, parents, not the State, are responsible for ensuring their compulsory school age (starting at age five) child receives an efficient and suitable full-time education. Any home education prior to compulsory school age is flexible and at the parents' discretion. For more discussion of the State requirements, you can check out the Department for Education’s guidance on elective home education.

Emma: “When we first decided, our eldest son, now 13, was a preschooler. We just focused on the skills he was learning at his preschool while we worked out our long term game plan. None of our children have ever been to school, and honestly it was the best decision we’ve ever made for them. As we had never enrolled them in school, we didn’t have to inform the local authority and to this day, we still haven’t!” 

Amy: “We started by missing the deadline to register for a place at school! Oops! Because my children have never been in school, we did not need to deregister.” 

Notifying your local authority

If you choose to home educate your kid and are withdrawing them from the mainstream school system, Outschool recommends following local guidelines — the specific legal requirements are explained in the Department for Education’s publication, ‘Elective home education’. Generally, this guidance explains that in many cases parents chose to inform the local educational authority directly to access support and advice. However, ‘Elective home education’ states that there is no obligation to inform the local authority if your kid has never been enrolled in school before. But, if your kid is enrolled in a school and withdraws, the school is legally obliged to inform the local authority.

According to the Elective Home Education guidance, if your kid attends a special school or is under a School Attendance Order, permission must be obtained from the local authority before they can be removed from the admission register. These points are also included in ‘Elective home education’, linked above.

Amy and Emma explain what they think you should know about your legal requirements and responsibilities if you’re thinking about home educating:

Amy: “You are responsible for making sure your child has a full time education, but there is so much flexibility in what that looks like practically. You don’t need to follow the National Curriculum, and you don’t need to spend six or more hours doing lessons five days a week. There is a lot of room to be creative and to meet the needs of your children exactly where they are.”

Emma: “Mostly, I think it’s that a lot of local authorities overstep what they are legally allowed to ask for. They can’t demand home visits, or samples of work for example. There are a lot of organisations that are great to make sure you have all the information you need. Even after home educating for my children’s entire education, I still refer back to them occasionally. The biggest thing I’ve always found interesting is that even if you enroll your child in school, your child’s education is still your responsibility. So what is legally required of you is always the same in many ways.” 

Getting started—first steps

Home educating is a huge decision and it’s important to mentally and practically prepare. You might worry about what other people think about your choice or be unsure how to set up a learning space, routine or initial plan. Maybe you need to make changes to your work or lifestyle to accommodate home education. Know that you’re not alone and all home educating parents face the same sort of challenges…

Amy: “I was initially worried about feeling lonely as a home educating mother. It was a little scary when my friends’ children started nursery and our playdates dried up. But pretty soon I connected with other families with young children who were considering home education. They have quickly become our best friends!”

Emma: “I was really nervous about telling my family and my husband’s family when we first decided to home educate. Not everybody was supportive at first, but they’ve all come around now. I was also worried at first that the children or I would be lonely, but we have the best community online and in real life. My worries couldn’t have been further from the truth!”

Deciding on a structure or routine

Some parents prefer to have a regular routine in place, whereas others like to go with the flow. Amy, for example, is a planner and likes structure:

Amy: “We start off every day after breakfast with the subjects that we do all together (I have three boys, ages 11, 10, and 7). After that, I work one on one with each of my children in turn. When they aren’t working with me, they have a checklist of work that they do on their own. Usually we are done by noon!” 

Emma: “We reassess our routine every few months. It revolves around classes and clubs (online and in person) and our 2 horses and 2 dogs! We fit everything else in around that. Every 3 months or so, I give my children a voting sheet for topics, online classes and in-person clubs and classes, and they let me know what they want to keep, and what they want to switch out.”

Choosing a home education approach

There are several different approaches you can take to homeschooling, depending on educational philosophies, family goals and your kid’s preferred learning style. For example, you might want to mimic a conventional school environment and follow a set curriculum, opt for self-directed learning or adopt a gentler approach such as the Charlotte Mason method.

Emma: “We have quite an eclectic style between my values and what my children want to do! We all have a love of nature study and creativity though so anything that helps us achieve that is a winner. My sons have both loved Pokemon drawing classes on Outschool and my eldest son took classes with a qualified middle school art teacher for a few months. I try to follow their interests in everything but the core subjects, which I always teach myself. My daughter is super interested in insects and joined a bug club and took online classes about entomology. Our methods mostly align with Charlotte Mason though, with a modern twist!”

Amy: “We follow the Charlotte Mason method, and follow the curriculum from AmblesideOnline. While we don’t do everything as written, it’s been incredibly helpful to have guidance from thoughtful home educators who have ‘gone before’.”

Tracking learning

One concern you might have is around how you can track your kid’s progress and ensure they’re learning effectively—and how involved your local authority will be in terms of monitoring what and how you’re teaching your kids. 

Amy: “One of the best parts of home education is that you naturally pick up on their progress. You know whether they are ‘getting’ their maths problems or not, and you can take time to address any misunderstandings straight away. We also use a method of learning called ‘narration’ where I ask the children to tell back to me what they’ve read or learned about. This really helps me understand if they have missed something in history, literature, or science, and we can have conversations to clarify those things.” 

Emma: “I keep a record of how many days a year we do sit down work and attend classes and clubs. This is not for any local authority records, purely to look back on. I also assess them through oral narration, written quizzes and creative projects like booklets or posters showcasing what they’ve learned. We do not have local authority inspections or reports of any kind currently.” 

Your local authority’s responsibilities are described on Page 14 of the Elective Home Education guidance. To summarise, your local authority has no formal power to monitor how you’re providing home education. It is entitled, however, to make informal enquiries to check that the quality of the education being provided is suitable. If, for any reason, the local authority feels there is a problem, this can lead to consequences such as serving a section 437 notice (which means you’ll need to satisfy the authority that your child is receiving a full-time and effective education suitable to their needs). In this situation, if you fail to satisfy the authority, they may serve a School Attendance Order, forcing you to register your child at a particular school.

Using Outschool to support home education 

Outschool is a global education platform that offers online classes for kids and teens aged 3 to 18. It covers a huge range of core and elective subjects and is already used by thousands of UK families! Many of Outschool’s classes can help supplement your kid’s learning—and there are some that align with the National Curriculum and are taught by UK teachers. Check out ten of Outschool’s most popular UK teachers and the classes they have available as you begin your home education journey.

Luke Beardsley - Writers Of The World ⭐ 4.8 (526 reviews)

Harriet Horner - Art and Art History ⭐ 4.9 (1867 reviews)

Mary Ravenwood - The Kitty Kat Detective Agency International ⭐ 5.0 (728 reviews)

Learning With Love - Science, History, Geography ⭐ 4.9 (73 reviews)

Dr. Anthony Radice - English ⭐ 5.0 (462 reviews)

Astrid Schilder - Design & Technology ⭐ 5.0 (646 reviews)

Sean Sullivan - Time for German ⭐ 5.0 (450 reviews)

Sorrel MSc. - Creating Flexible Thinkers ⭐ 5.0 (354 reviews)

Code Kids - Coding School ⭐ 4.8 (1,539 reviews)

Teacher Heidi - BSc., PGCE - Maths ⭐ 5.0 (50 reviews)

You might also like Outschool’s home education classes for UK learners—which are all under $15!

Socialisation and community

A common question about home education is, “But what about socialisation?” It’s a valid concern—after all, traditional schooling is often where children form friendships and learn to navigate group dynamics. However, families who home educate have found a wide range of creative, enriching ways to ensure their children stay socially connected and engaged. From joining local home-ed groups and co-ops to participating in sports clubs, meet-ups, and online communities, building a supportive network for both kids and parents is not only possible—it’s a vital and vibrant part of the home education journey. 

Emma: “My kids attend lots of clubs, Forest School, Scouting, Girl Guiding, STEM Club and lots of one-offs too, and that’s just how they socialise in person. They also do online classes and meet children from all over the world! We’re involved in online local home ed groups through Facebook as well as a nature study group where we follow a nature study curriculum I made myself. Whenever I’m having a wobble, there’s always someone who has just the right thing to say. They are amazing! I have met some of my dearest friends through home educating my children. I am so grateful for them all. In my early years of motherhood I had no community and I longed for it; now my community is so huge I don’t have time to see everyone!” 

Amy: “There are so many opportunities to socialise that the bigger question is how to protect the time we need at home for our lessons! We have a mix of regular get togethers and spontaneous play dates, plus their sports lessons and other classes. And don’t forget that time with family (immediate and extended) is socialisation, too!” I run a nature study group which includes a lesson followed by free play in the woods. This is a great time for the children to socialise! We also are in a home ed co-operative, which is a wonderful time for children to learn together and do activities that are more fun in a big group. My own support network looks like my husband who jumps in to help, my mother-in-law who watches the children one afternoon a week, and many wonderful friends who teach lessons at co-op, share books and resources, and just provide a listening ear on a tough day.”

Handling homeschooling challenges

While home education offers many advantages and rewards, it’s not without its challenges. Some parents find the transition overwhelming, if deregistering from mainstream schooling. Others struggle with juggling educational planning with work or other responsibilities.

Amy: “For me (a planner), it can be hard to remain flexible. My children are people, not robots, but it can still be hard when I think I’ve planned a really fun, exciting homeschool day and the children have other ideas. Yet flexibility is such a valuable part of home education. It’s a place where I am growing!”

Emma: “My biggest challenge has been my daughter’s learning challenges. She’s 11 but in many ways works at a younger age. We are still working on the overcoming part, but I’m learning to listen better, and encourage more. Home educating a disabled child comes with a lot of deep soul searching sometimes, letting go of the things you thought you’d do with them, and finding the things you can do with them. It’s not always easy, but I’m always trying my best.” 

Another common difficulty facing criticism or pressure from family, friends, the existing school or even people the parents don’t know all that well. Emma’s experience was in stark contrast to Amy’s in this regard.

Emma: “I faced a lot of criticism! Not only from family but also complete strangers on the internet. “Poor kids” and being called weirdos! Our families were not on board at first, but they’ve got over it now. I just became an open book with what we were teaching and experiencing. I was also quite firm that they were entitled to an opinion but that’s as far as it went. I didn’t have to listen. At the end of the day, my children are MY children. Only my husband and I get to make choices for them, anyone else needs to get on board or get out of the way!” 

Amy: “I’ve been very fortunate to not have had any criticism or pressure. In fact, most people who learn that I home educate my children are quick to say that they wish they could, too, and that it’s great for children to get a personalised education. I am usually quick to admit, though, that neither home education nor school education is perfect, and that we’ve simply chosen the challenges that come with home ed.” 

Home schooling mistakes to avoid

Like any new journey, home education comes with a learning curve—and it’s completely normal to make a few missteps along the way. Whether it's trying to replicate school too rigidly at home, overloading the schedule, or pushing your kids before they’re ready, many experienced home-ed parents have learned valuable lessons along the way.

Amy: “I think we all have moments of panic. I know I’ve come home from holiday to a mountain of parcels, all containing different French curricula, because I felt that we weren’t doing enough! So I think the lesson is to try not to panic. If you find yourself ‘adding to cart’ at an unusual rate, stop and check whether you are acting from confidence, curiosity, or fear!”

Emma: “Trying to push my children to do too much too soon. My youngest did arts and crafts, nature study and was read to until he was 6, and then we started with just learning to read. He’s at the same level in every area he would be in school, whereas my other children started at 4, and struggled for those 2 years and beyond. I definitely learned my lesson!”

Homeschooling wins 

When home education works well, the results can be incredibly rewarding and inspiring. Families often find themselves forging stronger bonds, while kids thrive in ways they hadn’t experienced in a traditional school setting. We asked Emma and Amy what they found to be the most rewarding aspects of home educating their kids.

Emma: “Being present for all the “aha!” moments. Watching them learn to read and knowing that me, and no one else, facilitated that. It’s been more rewarding than I ever thought possible.” 

Amy: “It is so special to hear my children reading and to think, ‘Wow, I taught them how to do that!’. Being front row and centre when a maths concept clicks for them and learning alongside them is amazing.”

Is home education right for your family?

Home education in the UK is a personal and flexible path—one that can be tailored to fit your family’s unique rhythm, values, and needs. While you may be filled with questions and uncertainties at the start, the journey often unfolds into something rich, rewarding, and full of unexpected joys. As Emma and Amy have suggested, you don’t have to have it all figured out from day one. 

With patience, support, and access to the quality learning resources, home education can help your child thrive. Whether you're just exploring the idea or ready to take the plunge, remember—you’re not alone, and there’s a big community of likeminded parents you can lean on. 

Let’s conclude with some of Amy and Emma’s best advice for parents who are considering home education…

Amy: “Trust that there is time to figure it out. Take that time. Consider where you want to end up at the end of your home education journey, and think about what steps will help you get there. Watch what others are doing in order to gather ideas, but be confident that your homeschool is unique to you and your children. I think the best thing we did when starting out was to cultivate a habit of gathering. From the time my children were little, we would take time to read together after breakfast instead of everyone disappearing to play or do their own thing. This was a great jumping off point for everything else that we do together. The key to a good start is to start small. Just read a chapter aloud every day from a really good book, and go from there.”

Emma: “Slow and steady wins the race. There’s no prizes for learning to read at 4, or knowing all your times tables by the time you are 8. A lot of countries don't even start formal learning until 7! If your child has been to school, I’d still recommend going slowly. Let everyone adjust before you dive into doing everything. Give yourself at least 3 months to dip in and out of things, and let your child lead the way.”  

Want to connect with other UK families using Outschool for home education? Join our Facebook group today. Before you go, don’t forget to check out Outschool’s huge range of online classes—here are our most popular ones.

Further resources recommended by Emma and Amy:

• YouTube - Adventure All The Way (Emma’s channel).

• TikTok - thrivingwithhannah

• Book - The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart.

• Book - A Homemade Education by Shelby Dersa.

• Audiobook - For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay (if you’re interested in the Charlotte Mason method).

• Blog - How We Homeschool (by Amy).

Disclaimer:

*Please note that all the legal requirements referenced in this article relating to home education in the UK have been sourced from the government publication: ‘Elective home education, Departmental guidance for parents’, by the Department for Education. 

Outschool