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Over 100,000 children were homeschooled during the 2022-2023 academic year, according to a report from the United Kingdom (UK) government. The number of such students is expected to grow as homeschooling gains popularity in England.
Homeschooling is a type of education where parents decide it is best for their children to learn at home. Parents or guardians take responsibility for their education. We will talk about how a student can switch to homeschooling in England.
What to Consider When Choosing Homeschooling in England?
“Most parents are doing a good job, or a good enough job of home education”
Heather Sandy, BBC
Switching to homeschooling is a big responsibility. Parents switching their child from traditional school to homeschooling in England need to consider the following:
- Inform the school in writing about the decision to homeschool kids. This is important because the school will notify the local authorities about this decision.
- Family members don’t need permission to homeschool, but they are responsible for providing an appropriate education. Local councils check periodically to ensure the child is receiving an appropriate education. Local councils serve a school attendance order if they think the child needs to be taught at school.
- Create an education plan and gather educational materials suiting the child’s needs. Family members are not required to follow national standards, but they must carefully plan the education program.
- Seek out local homeschooling groups, extracurricular activities, or clubs to ensure the child stays engaged with peers.
- Family members who want their child to take formal exams like General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs) need to arrange this through private exam centers. These exams are not automatically provided for homeschooled children.
Parents who decide their child will be homeschooled from the start follow the same steps, excluding the part about notifying the traditional school. They are not required to notify the school or authorities, but this does not prevent the authorities from knowing the child is being homeschooled. The authorities may still conduct checks to ensure the child is receiving an appropriate education.
Top 5 Answers to Questions About Homeschooling in England
We will cover five common questions parents have about homeschooling in England.
What If Your Child Has Special Education Needs?
Parents need permission from the local council before their child’s name will be removed from the register of a special school and they begin homeschooling.
Parents need to notify the council if their child has an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan, even if they are currently in a mainstream school or haven’t yet started school. Family members take these actions to demonstrate to the authorities their ability to provide a suitable education at home for a child with special needs.
What Home Education Evidence Do You Have to Provide?
Parents provide evidence of home education if required by authorities. This evidence includes:
- Reports describing the subjects being taught and the teaching methods used.
- Samples demonstrating student’s progress in different subjects.
- Plan outlining learning objectives and subjects for the year.
- Informal or formal assessments showing the child’s progress.
- Proof of a structured and supportive space for learning at home. Parents use a week schedule, access to learning materials, and other.
What If You’re Divorced?
Parents who have separated choose to home educate their child without the consent of the other parent. The other parent can challenge this decision in court.
Does the Process Vary Between Counties?
Yes, local councils make their own procedures and arrangements for how they ask home educating families to set up, and how they’re inspected or monitored. Find out about procedures in your area by entering the postcode here.
Is the Law Different Throughout the UK?
No, it’s similar.
How Much Does It Cost to Homeschool Your Child?
The cost of homeschooling the child in England varies depending on the resources parents choose. Prices for educational materials start from £100 per year. Parents who need to purchase technology, such as computers, expect to pay the price of £200.
Parents who plan for their child to take formal exams like GCSEs expect costs to start from £100 per subject. Hiring tutors to cover specific subjects costs parents from £20 per hour. Extracurricular activities, such as sport, add to the price, beginning at £100 annually.
Parents can expect the total cost of homeschooling in England to generally start from around £500 per year per child.
How to Save Money on Homeschooling in England?
Homeschooling can be expensive due to the costs of learning materials, technology, and tutors. Parents save money and stress by choosing online homeschooling. Online homeschooling offers all the benefits of traditional homeschooling but at a lower cost, providing a ready-made curriculum meeting standards, along with teachers and educational resources.
Legacy Online School is an excellent choice for homeschooling your children online. Our school has received a prestigious award for the best curriculum. You can learn more about this award and what helped our school earn it here.
Conclusion
We have covered the key aspects of homeschooling in England. Parents can find additional information about home education on the official UK government website. Many parents find traditional homeschooling challenging and resource-intensive. These parents choose online homeschooling as a better solution. We recommend Legacy Online School for online homeschooling, as we guarantee high-quality education.
