When school has become a daily source of stress, the question is rarely just, “Can I take my child out of school?”

Parents often have many more questions:

Do I need permission? What do I tell the school? What happens after deregistration? How will my child keep learning? What about GCSEs? Could online school be an option? 

If you are considering home education, it is worth understanding both the legal process and what life may look like afterwards. 

This blog explains how deregistration works in England and Wales, what parents are responsible for once a child leaves school, what to consider if anxiety or attendance difficulties are involved, and where structured online learning may fit. Please note: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. If your child attends a special school, has an EHCP or IDP, is subject to safeguarding arrangements, or other circumstances may affect their education, speak to your local authority or seek independent advice before making a decision.

Is it legal to educate your child at home?

Yes.

Parents in England and Wales can choose to educate their child at home. This is often called elective home education (EHE).

The key distinction is that while children must receive an education, they do not necessarily have to receive it by attending school.

In England, parents are responsible for ensuring their child receives a suitable, full-time education that takes into account their age, ability and aptitude, and any special educational needs. Parents do not generally have to follow the National Curriculum.

Home education can take many forms. A parent might teach their child themselves, use tutors, join educational groups, use online support or combine several approaches.

An online school can also form part of an education outside mainstream school, but not every online course provides the same level of teaching or support.

The question to ask is not simply:

“Is online school legal?”

It is:

“Will this give my child a suitable education and the support they need?”

Before you deregister: think about what comes next

Deregistering your child can feel like a huge relief, particularly if every school morning has become a struggle.

For some families, home education is a positive and carefully considered choice.

For others, the decision comes after months of anxiety, bullying, missed school, unmet learning needs or conflict around attendance.

Before sending the letter, take some time to think about what you are actually trying to change.

Ask yourself just 3 questions:

1. What is it that my child requires but lacks at school?
   • Is the real issue the learning environment, the level of support, their wellbeing, or something else?
2. How will the learning be like once my child leaves?
   • Think of who will be educating my child, how the schedule will be organised, and how progress will be tracked.
3. Is it feasible for us to fulfil the requirement of our child?
   • Is it feasible for us to fulfil the requirement of our child?

There is no single answer that works for every child. 

The right choice depends on why school isn't working, what your child needs, and what your family can realistically provide. 

What if my child is struggling with anxiety or school avoidance?

This is one of the most common reasons parents start looking into deregistration.

You may have spent months trying to get your child through the school gates. Perhaps they are experiencing panic, physical symptoms, exhaustion, shutdowns or a growing loss of confidence around learning.

In these situations, it helps to separate two questions:

1. What support could my child receive while they are still enrolled?
2. Is home education the right longer-term option for our family?

If attendance difficulties are connected to anxiety, emotional wellbeing, bullying, SEND or another barrier, it is reasonable to speak to the school about what support or adjustments could be put in place.

Government attendance guidance recognises that emotional and mental health difficulties can affect attendance and sets out responsibilities for schools, parents and local authorities.

Home education should also be a genuine parental choice. It should not be presented as a quick solution to an attendance or behaviour problem. 

Welsh Government guidance specifically states that schools should not pressure parents to remove a child from the school roll to avoid exclusion, attendance action or to improve school performance.

If you do decide to home educate after a period of anxiety or emotionally based school avoidance, your child may not be ready to move straight into a full academic timetable. 

A gradual start may be more realistic.

That might mean:

• A consistent morning routine

• Short learning sessions

• Starting with subjects your child feels comfortable with

• Regular breaks and time outdoors

• Less pressure to immediately “catch up”

• A tutor or teacher taking responsibility for subjects where you need additional support.

• Slowly building up the amount of structured learning.

Home education is not the remedy for anxiety disorder. In case of intense anxiety and anxiety that interferes with the child’s activities, parents need to plan the schooling of the child under expert guidance.

What happens after you deregister?

This is something worth thinking about before you send the letter.

Once your child is no longer registered at school, responsibility for their education sits with you as the parent.

That can be liberating, but it can also be a lot to manage.

You may suddenly be responsible for:

• Planning learning

• Finding suitable resources

• Teaching or arranging teaching

• Checking progress

• Identifying gaps in learning

• Keeping your child engaged

• Arranging qualifications and exams

• Paying for tutors, resources or exam fees where needed

You do not have to recreate a traditional school timetable at home.

Home education can be formal, informal or a mixture of the two. Parents do not need to be qualified teachers to educate their children at home.

However, you should be able to explain how your child's education is being provided and why it is suitable for them.

It can therefore be useful to keep simple records of:

• Your child's weekly learning routine

• Subjects and topics covered

• Books and resources used

• Examples of completed work

• Assessments or tutor feedback

• Clubs, sports and other activities

• Progress over time

• Plans for GCSEs or other qualifications

You do not need a mountain of paperwork.

You want to be able to see what your child is learning and where they may need more support.

What does “suitable full-time education” mean?

The phrase “full-time education” can sound as though you have to recreate school at home.

You don't.

Home education does not have to follow school hours, school terms or the National Curriculum.

The education should, however, be suitable for your child's age, ability and aptitude and should take account of their needs.

A useful way to think about it is through five questions:

The goal isn't to have everything perfect from the first week.

It is to have a plan that works for your child and can be maintained by your family.

How to deregister your child from school in England

For most children attending a mainstream school in England, parents can withdraw their child from school to educate them otherwise than at school.

In practice, you should tell the school in writing that you are taking responsibility for your child's education and give the date from which you intend to educate them at home.

The letter does not need to be complicated.

Keep a copy of everything you send and any response you receive.

Current Department for Education guidance confirms that, where the relevant conditions are met, a school must remove a child's name from the admission register when a parent notifies the school in writing that the child will no longer attend and will instead receive education otherwise than at school.

A simple deregistration letter for England

Subject: Withdrawal from school for elective home education

Dear [Headteacher's name],

I am writing to confirm that I will be taking responsibility for the education of my child, [child's full name], from [date].

I therefore request that their name be removed from the school admission register so they can be educated outside of school.

Please confirm in writing once this has been completed.

Yours sincerely,

[Parent/carer name]

[Address]

[Contact details]

The school will normally notify the local authority once your child's name has been removed from the register.

The local authority may then contact you to ask about the education being provided. This does not mean you need permission to home educate in the usual circumstances. Local authorities have responsibilities around identifying children who may not be receiving a suitable education.

How to deregister your child from school in Wales

The process in Wales is similar in some respects, but the regulations differ.

Parents who want to educate their child outside school should notify the school in writing.

The Welsh Government currently states that parents do not need local authority permission to deregister their child unless the child attends a special school. The school must notify the local authority within 10 days of removing the child's name from the register.

A simple deregistration letter for Wales

Subject: Withdrawal from school for home education

Dear [Headteacher's name],

I am writing to notify you that I will take responsibility for educating my child, [child's full name], outside of school from [date].

Please remove their name from the school admission register and confirm this in writing.

Yours sincerely,

[Parent/carer name]

[Address]

[Contact details]

What about GCSEs if you home educate?

Home education does not automatically mean giving up on qualifications.

Children educated at home are not legally required to take GCSEs. But if your child is likely to need qualifications for sixth form, college, university, an apprenticeship or a future career, it is worth thinking about them early.

This becomes particularly important from around Year 9 onwards.

If you are arranging GCSEs independently, you may need to think about:

• Which subjects your child will take

• Which exam board each subject uses

• Finding an exam centre that accepts private candidates

• Exam entry deadlines

• Exam fees

• Coursework or practical requirements

• Access arrangements where relevant

• Revision and assessment

These details can be difficult to manage, particularly for subjects with practical or coursework components.

If you are considering an online school, ask exactly what the provider handles.

Do not assume that every online school arranges exam entries or provides an exam centre.

Ask before enrolling.

Could an online school be an option?

Home education doesn’t mean you have to teach every lesson yourself.

Some families want the freedom of learning outside a traditional school, but still want teachers, structure, and a school community around their child. A structured online school can offer that balance.

Before choosing one, look at how the school actually works.

Ask:

• Who teaches the lessons?

• Are lessons live?

• How will my child’s progress be checked?

• What happens if they fall behind or miss a lesson?

• Is the timetable flexible?

• How are GCSEs and exam entries handled?

• How will my child interact with other pupils?

The right fit is not about having the longest list of features. It’s about finding the level of teaching, support and structure that works for your child.

How Sprout can support your family with home education.

For some families, the decision is not really about school versus no school.

It is about finding a way of learning that works better for their child.

At Sprout, we support KS3–KS5 pupils who need a more flexible approach to education while still wanting the structure and support of a school.

Pupils learn through live, teacher-led lessons, with recorded sessions available to revisit. They can access online books and educational materials from our e-library, have a dedicated mentor, and much more. Events are held quarterly so they can socialise with their schoolmates and interact with the school's online community.

For older pupils, Sprout also supports GCSE and A-level preparation and helps families plan for what comes next with an expert career counsellor. 

The aim is not to recreate the traditional school day online.

It is to give pupils a structured place to learn while allowing more flexibility around how and when they learn.

For parents, that can also mean not having to carry every part of their child's education alone.

What Sprout can provide

• Live teacher-led lessons across key subjects.

• A clear weekly structure with flexibility where needed

• Recorded lessons that pupils can return to

• Feedback and progress monitoring

• Support with learning gaps

• Dedicated pastoral and mentoring support

• GCSE and A-level preparation

• Support with planning for future pathways

• Digital books and learning resources

• Clubs, activities and opportunities to connect with other pupils 

Every family will have different needs.

Some may want a complete online school, but in some cases, children need additional lessons in certain subjects and more structure to help them regain confidence in learning. 

That is why it is important to know what options you have before making any decisions.

So, is deregistering the right choice for your child?

No single solution will suit every family.

For some children, home education provides the space and support they need; for others, a structured online school may offer a better balance between flexibility and regular teaching.

Some children may benefit from support within their existing school, while others may need a completely different environment. 

The important thing is not simply to ask:

“How do I get my child out of school?”

Try asking:

“What does my child need after they leave?”

That question can change the conversation.

Think about the education, support, routine, qualifications and social opportunities your child will need next — and then look at the options available to you. 

Considering online support for your child?

If you are unsure what route would work best, you don't have to make the decision alone.

Book a Free Consultation with Sprout to talk through your child's current situation, learning needs, confidence, subjects and possible next steps.

There is no pressure to decide on the call.