Home education

Parents are legally responsible for providing education for their child. While most parents do this by sending their child to school, it’s also possible to educate your child at home.

If you want to withdraw your child and educate them at home, you’ll need to get consent from the education authority. The education authority must have a good reason if they decide to withhold consent. 

If your child has never attended a state school there's no need to get consent from the authority to educate your child at home. Local authorities must get involved if they believe home education is not suitable for the age, ability and aptitude of the child. This applies to all children – including those who've never been to state school.

To assist both parents and local authorities in understanding their roles and responsibilities the then Scottish Executive published home education guidance in 2004, with a commitment to review how it was working after 2 years.  To honour that commitment a written consultation was carried out from November 2006 to February 2007. The consultation responses and analysis report can be accessed on the web.

The consultation lead to new Home Education Guidance guidance being produced and published in January 2008. The revised guidance has been rewritten in a parent  friendly format and aims to help parents teaching at home develop positive relationships  with local authorities..

If you would like a copy of the current guidance, please write to Educational Options and Involvement Team, Area 2B-(N), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ, or telephone 0131 244 4485, or e-mail mailhome.education@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.