England homeschool requirements at a glance
Good news: England sets no homeschool filing deadlines. Here is what the law does ask of you, and how to stay covered. Free, no account needed.
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What you do need to keep
Dated log of education providedrecommended, not required
Ongoing; useful if the local authority makes informal enquiries
Samples of workrecommended, not required
Ongoing
Resources and reading lists usedrecommended, not required
Ongoing
Activities, visits, and social opportunities logrecommended, not required
Ongoing
Instruction expected: No set hours.
Keep these automatically with Starpath RecordsAlso on your plate
School Must Remove Child from Roll
Immediate (upon letter receipt)
If missed: If the school delays, the child should not continue attending. The parent can escalate to the local authority or the Department for Education.
Respond to Local Authority Inquiry
Within 15 days of LA notice
If missed: Failure to satisfy the local authority may lead to a School Attendance Order, which could ultimately result in prosecution if not complied with.
Why there are no dates here
None of the England homeschool filings in our rules data falls on a fixed day of the year, so there's no date we could remind you of. What England does list, and when it applies, is under "Also on your plate" above.
Questions about homeschooling in England
Do I need permission from the local authority to home educate?
No. You do not need anyone's permission to home educate in England. If your child has never been to school, you don't even need to tell anyone. If withdrawing from school, you notify the headteacher: this is a notification, not a request for permission.
Do I have to follow the National Curriculum?
No. The National Curriculum applies only to state-funded schools. Home-educating families have complete freedom to choose their own curriculum, methods, and educational philosophy.
Can the local authority insist on visiting my home?
No. There is no legal right for the local authority to enter your home or see your child. You can choose to provide written evidence of your educational provision instead. Many families prefer to submit a written report rather than accept a home visit.
How can my child take GCSEs or A-Levels?
Home-educated children can sit exams as private (external) candidates at schools or exam centres that accept external entries. You will need to register and pay for the exams yourself. Some exams with practical components (e.g., science) may be harder to arrange.
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Which Waldorf curriculum fits your family?
Four questions: your child’s age, the time you have each day, how close to a Waldorf school you want to be, and what matters most. Your answers are matched against the 8 curricula in our comparison. Starpath is one of them and gets no extra points. The result shows on the page, and you can have it emailed to you.
Answer the four questionsDates come from published England requirements and are not legal advice. Laws change. Cross-check with the official state source and our full England guide.