Home education

Legal requirements

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.

Guidance for parents and local authorities

The Scottish Government has produced Home Education Guidance to help parents who are considering home education. We hope the guidance will assist in achieving our aims of promoting and developing positive relationships between local authorities and home educating parents and carers.

Useful links