JabbaHome education in England
Home education means you take charge of your child's education at home instead of sending them to school. It's legal in England: the Education Act 1996 gives parents the right to educate a child 'otherwise' than at school. Here you'll find what you need: the rules, local authority registers, how to get started, and what a calm school day at home can look like.
What is home education?
When you home educate, you take on responsibility for your child's education yourself. You may do it your own way, and you don't have to follow the national curriculum, keep school hours, deliver formal lessons or follow a timetable. Under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, home-educated children must be registered with their local authority, which may make informal enquiries about the education you're providing.
Families choose home education for many reasons: a child who isn't thriving at school, a daily life that works better at home, or a wish to follow the child's pace closely. The guides below take you through what's worth knowing.
Home education guides
Getting started
Step by step: register with your local authority, understand the law, and plan the first weeks.
Rules and legislation
Education Act 1996 section 7, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, and what a 'suitable education' means.
Local authority registers and enquiries
What your local authority can ask, what to show, and how an informal enquiry usually goes.
The national curriculum
How to use the national curriculum as a guide at home and document progress, even though you don't have to follow it.
What is the national curriculum?
A plain-English explainer: what it is, the key stages, why the order matters, and how to use it at home.
School refusal
When school has become too hard: when home education can help, and how to start with safety.
Daily plan and structure
A simple, flexible school day: how long, what structure, and why breaks work.
Online home education
How to get started: what the law requires, what a good day looks like, and the pitfalls most families hit.
Home education with Jabba
Jabba is a calm AI tutor that can take the whole school day at home. It lays out a daily plan from the subjects and level you choose, and can tie activities to the national curriculum (England), so home learning stays grounded even though you're not required to follow it.
You follow along with what your child has done and how it's going. That gives you both a structure from day one, and a record you can share with your local authority if it ever makes an enquiry.
What parents ask most
Is home education legal in England?
Yes, completely legal. Education Act 1996, section 7, requires parents to ensure their child receives an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, 'either by regular attendance at school or otherwise'. Those two words, 'or otherwise', are the legal basis for home education. Under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, you must register your home-educated child with your local authority. The rules-and-legislation guide goes through the details.
Do I have to be a trained teacher?
No. The law doesn't require any teaching qualification, and you don't have to follow the national curriculum, keep school hours or follow a timetable. What matters is that the education is suitable for your child. You decide the method, and tools like Jabba can carry the daily structure. The getting-started guide covers what that looks like in practice.
How do I get started?
If your child is already at a state school, write to the head teacher asking to deregister them; the school removes your child from roll and tells the local authority. A few groups of children need the local authority's consent first under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026: those subject to a child protection investigation or plan, or at a special school. Then register with your local authority and plan teaching in English, maths and the subjects that matter to your family. See the 'Getting started' guide.
Does the local authority supervise home education?
There's no routine inspection, and Ofsted does not inspect home education. Local authorities keep a 'Children Not in School' register and may make informal enquiries about the education you're providing. You're not legally obliged to respond, but if you don't, the local authority may conclude the education doesn't appear suitable. If it considers the education or home environment unsuitable, it can intervene, including requiring school attendance. The registers-and-enquiries guide walks through what to expect.
Can Jabba be used for home education?
Yes. Jabba can structure the whole school day at home, use the national curriculum as a helpful guide, and give you a running record to share if your local authority makes an enquiry.
Sources
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