About home education

Most parents send their children to school to receive an education. But you have the right to educate your child at home if you prefer. This is also known as elective home education (EHE).

Elective home education does not:

  • give your child priority over children in school if you decide to apply for a school place
  • necessarily address the causes of problems your child experiences at school

Elective home education is different to any home tuition we organise for your child, for example, if they have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Find out about support with your child's learning if they have SEND

Your responsibilities

As a parent or carer, you have a legal responsibility to make sure your child receives an education suitable for their:

  • age
  • ability
  • aptitude
  • SEND needs

If you decide to educate your child at home, you will:

  • take on full responsibility for all aspects of your child’s education
  • not receive a curriculum or other resources from us
  • not receive support from a school

How to educate your child at home

What you’ll need to do

To make sure your child receives a suitable education, you need to:

  • have the time to support and supervise your child’s education on a daily basis, or arrange for another appropriate adult to do that
  • provide an education that takes up a significant proportion of your child’s time, although this does not need to follow standard school hours, days or terms
  • research and plan how you’ll provide the education your child needs
  • pay for everything you need, such as online learning programmes, books and exam fees

Withdrawing your child from school

If your child attends school but you want to home educate them instead, you should:

  • discuss your decision with the school to make sure it’s in your child’s best interests
  • write to the headteacher clearly stating that you plan to home educate your child and request that they’re removed from the school register
  • know that the school will automatically refer you to our Elective Home Education Officer

Contact us for support

We will:

  • register your child as being educated at home
  • discuss your plans for home education with you
  • offer advice and guidance
  • review the education you’re providing
  • take action if home education is not working out, or there’s no evidence that you’re providing a suitable education

We do not provide:

  • funding to support home education
  • teachers
  • laptops or other IT equipment
  • registration with exam boards or a place to take exams

Email us at elective-home-education@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

More information

Find out more in our Elective Home Education Guidance