Parents and home educators

Deregistering From School in England: How It Works

By TheLearnDen's editorial team · Updated 2026-07-30 · England-focused; the law differs in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Taking your child out of school to home educate in England is, for most families, a short and entirely lawful process: you write to the school, the school removes your child from the roll, and your child's education becomes your responsibility. No permission, no interview, no waiting period.

Because the internet is full of half-right versions of this, this guide sticks closely to what the law actually says, names the two situations where the process is different, and explains what to expect from your local authority afterwards. It covers England only — the rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so start from gov.uk/home-education if you are elsewhere in the UK.

The right you are exercising

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 places the duty to educate on parents, not schools: your child must receive an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs — "either by regular attendance at school or otherwise". Choosing "otherwise" is not opting out of education; it is choosing a different lawful way of meeting the same duty.

For a child at an ordinary mainstream school, you do not need anyone's permission to make that choice, you do not have to give reasons, and you do not have to attend a meeting first — though schools will often offer one, and there is no harm in going if you want to.

How deregistration actually works

The mechanics sit in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. Regulation 8(1)(d) says a pupil's name must be deleted from the school's admission register when the child has ceased to attend and the school has received written notification from the parent that the child is receiving education otherwise than at school.

In practice that means:

Write to the head teacher — a letter or an email both count as written notification. Say clearly that your child is receiving education otherwise than at school from a stated date, and ask for their name to be deleted from the admission register. Our deregistration letter template has exact wording you can print and fill in.
Keep a copy, and note the date you sent it.
The school must then delete your child's name from the register and tell the local authority it has done so. Deletion under regulation 8(1)(d) is a duty, not a decision — the school is not being asked to agree, only to record.
From your stated date, your child no longer attends and the attendance rules stop applying to them at that school.

There is no notice period and no form. You do not need to wait for a reply before your child stops attending, though a written acknowledgement from the school is worth asking for, and chasing, because it protects you from any later confusion about attendance.

The two situations where it is different

Special schools. If your child attends a special school under arrangements made by the local authority, the school cannot remove their name without the local authority's consent. You ask the local authority first; if it refuses and you disagree, you can ask the Secretary of State to direct otherwise. This applies to the placement route, not to your child having special educational needs in general — a child with an EHCP at a mainstream school can be deregistered by the normal letter.
School attendance orders. If a school attendance order is in force naming a school your child must attend, you cannot simply deregister; you must ask the local authority to revoke the order (and can appeal to the Secretary of State if it refuses). This only affects the small number of families already subject to an order.

What happens after you deregister

The school tells the local authority, and at some point — days or months later — the authority will usually contact you. This is normal, not a sign you did anything wrong. Local authorities may make informal enquiries to satisfy themselves that a suitable education is being provided.

You are not required to follow a set format, use a curriculum, or admit visitors to your home, but it is sensible to respond: a short written description of your approach, with some examples of what your child does, is the usual reply. If an authority formed the view that no suitable education was happening and the concern was not resolved, it could begin the school attendance order process — engaging early and calmly is how families keep things straightforward.

If you want somewhere to start with the education itself, our guide to home educating for free covers free resources for every year group, and the printable checklists map what schools cover each year so you can borrow as much or as little structure as you like.

The law is changing — check before you rely on this

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 became law in April 2026. Among other things it provides for "Children Not in School" registers held by local authorities, new information duties on home-educating parents, and a requirement for local authority consent before withdrawing certain children — including some children at special schools and some subject to child protection processes.

As we write, those measures are being brought into force in stages through regulations and statutory guidance, so exactly what applies on the day you deregister may differ from the long-standing position described above. Before sending your letter, check the current position on gov.uk — and treat any blog post, including this one, as a starting point rather than the final word on a moving picture.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a deregistration letter template I can use?

Yes — our free printable deregistration letter template uses the wording of regulation 8(1)(d) of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 and has fill-in blanks for your child's details. Print it, fill it in, and send or hand it to the school.

Is there a notice period for taking my child out of school?

No. In England there is no notice period for deregistering from a mainstream school: written notification takes effect without any waiting time, and the school must then delete your child's name from the register. You choose the date your child's home education begins and state it in the letter.

Do both parents have to agree to home educate?

The regulations require written notification from "the parent", and in practice schools act on a letter from one parent with parental responsibility. But education is a matter both parents with parental responsibility share, so if the other parent objects, it is far better to resolve that first — in a genuine dispute a court can be asked to decide, and a unilateral withdrawal can be challenged. If you are separated and unsure, get advice before writing.

Can the school refuse to deregister my child?

Not for a mainstream school in England. Once it receives your written notification that your child is receiving education otherwise than at school, deleting the name from the register is a legal duty. The school can offer a meeting or ask questions — you can accept or politely decline — but it cannot make deregistration conditional on either. The exceptions are special schools attended under local authority arrangements and children subject to a school attendance order, and note that the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is extending consent requirements for some groups of children — check gov.uk for the current position.