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Deregistration/Withdrawal from school

 

Deregistration letters can be handwritten, typed or emailed. ALWAYS get proof, whether it's a receipt from the school, proof from the Post Office or an email receipt.
Mainstream schools in England and Wales
 

  • You MUST send a letter to school telling them that you no longer need the school place (see sample letters) because you are taking responsibility for your child's education by Home Educating. 

 

  • You are not obliged to give any notice and can take the letter in as you pick your child up on their last day, or on the morning of the first day they don't attend.

 

  • The school MUST remove the child's name immediately.

 

  • This is the same process even if the child has a statement of Special Educational Needs in mainstream school.

 

  • If your child has not been enrolled in a school you need not inform anyone of your decision.

 

  • If your child is due to start/already enrolled in Nursery or Reception you must inform the school (and often useful to let admissions know) that you do not need the place any more, you are not obliged to inform them as to why.  

Mainstream schools in Northern Ireland
 

  • Home Education is a legal option for every family in Northern Ireland. 

 

  • Seeking permission from the local ELB is not required. 

 

  • Parents may decide to Home Educate before their child is of school age and therefore do not need to register him/her with a school. 

 

  • If the child is already in attendance at school the parent must deregister him/her by writing to the school principal (see sample letters section).  Permission from the ELB is neither required by the parent or by the school principal.

 

  • Some teachers or principals believe that a parent of a mainstream school child needs permission to deregister or to Home Educate, but this is inaccurate.  Parents do not need permission to educate their child outside of school.

 

  • If a child is registered at a Special School the parent may need permission to deregister them.  If your child has a statement, and attends a mainstream school you can simply deregister him/her.

Special schools (not needed in Scotland)
 

  • You are expected to write to the LA, asking for consent for your child to be removed from the register of a special school.  

 

  • It is recommended that in this letter you describe how Home Education will cater for their special needs.  There is a sample letter HERE.

 

  • Your child must continue to attend until permission is given to deregister, if your child is too ill to attend then we advise you seek a doctors note.

Mainstream Local Authority run schools in Scotland
 

  • Once you have made the decision to Home Educate, you need to write to your local education department requesting consent to withdraw your child from school (see withdrawal process). You MUST include information about your intentions and how you will provide an education, without this it is likely that your request will be declined. 

 

You do not need to officially withdraw or notify the LA that you are Home Educating if:

  • your child is leaving p7

  • school has closed

  • your child attends a school in another authority from the one you live

  • if they attend a private school

  • have never been registered at a school

  • you move to a new LA area

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  • Consent to withdraw should not be unreasonably withheld.  However, it is important that your child continues to attend school until you have permission in writing.  This can take around 6 weeks. 

 

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