JabbaHome education in England: rules and the law
Written by The Jabba team · Updated 30 June 2026
Home education is legal in England. You do not have to follow the national curriculum or keep school hours. You do need to register with your local authority under the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The council can then ask questions, and it can intervene if the education does not look suitable.
A duty to educate, not a duty to attend school
English law distinguishes between attending school and being educated. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 says a parent must ensure their child receives 'efficient full-time education suitable to age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs'. It adds that this may happen 'either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.' Those two words, 'or otherwise', are the legal basis for home education.
That distinction is what makes home education legal. You take on responsibility for making sure your child learns what they need to, and the local authority's role is limited to registers, informal enquiries and, if needed, intervention. It is not routine inspection.
What the law requires
The core legal duty is short: a suitable, full-time education. Beyond that, there is no fixed method or format you must follow. There are, however, some practical requirements that matter in 2026.
- You do not have to follow the national curriculum, keep school hours, follow a timetable, or enter your child for exams.
- Under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, every local authority must keep a 'Children Not in School' register, and home-educated children must be registered with their local authority.
- The local authority can make informal enquiries (under section 436A) 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 the local authority considers the education, or the home environment, unsuitable, it can intervene, including issuing a School Attendance Order as a last resort.
Withdrawing a child from school
To withdraw a child from a state school, you write to the head teacher asking to deregister; the school removes the child from its roll and informs the local authority.
Under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, local authority consent is now required before withdrawing certain children to home educate. That covers three groups: children subject to a child protection investigation, children who are (or were, within the last five years) under a child protection plan, and children at a special school.
Do you have to follow the national curriculum?
No. The national curriculum applies to maintained (state) schools; academies, free schools and home educators are not required to follow it. You're free to choose your own subjects, order, pace and method, as long as the overall education is suitable to your child's age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.
Many families still use the national curriculum's core subjects (English, maths and science) as a helpful reference point, alongside free resources such as BBC Bitesize, Oak National Academy and the national curriculum programmes of study on gov.uk. That's a choice, not a requirement.
- No routine inspection: Ofsted does not inspect home education.
- No required exams: SATs and GCSEs are school milestones, not obligations for home educators.
- Freedom to choose subjects, resources and pace, provided the overall education is suitable.
How Jabba helps you stay on track
Jabba ties every activity to the national curriculum (England), so you have a clear, recognised yardstick to work from if you want one, even though you're not required to follow it. You choose subjects and level, and the plan covers English, maths and science plus a broader range of subject areas.
You get a running overview of what your child has done, which helps keep the teaching on track and gives you a simple record if the local authority ever makes an informal enquiry.
What parents ask most
Is home education legal in England?
Yes, home education is fully legal in England. Parents have a duty to ensure their child receives a suitable education, not a duty to send them to school. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 allows this 'either by regular attendance at school or otherwise'. You'll need to register with your local authority under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, but you don't need permission to home educate a child who isn't already at a special school or subject to certain child protection measures.
Do I have to follow the national curriculum?
No. The national curriculum only applies to maintained state schools. Home educators are free to choose their own subjects, resources, pace and method, as long as the overall education is suitable to the child's age, ability and aptitude.
Will the local authority inspect my home education?
There is no routine inspection, and Ofsted does not inspect home education. The local authority may make informal enquiries under section 436A to check the education looks suitable. You aren't legally required to respond, but if you don't, the local authority may conclude it doesn't appear suitable.
Do I need permission to withdraw my child from school to home educate?
For most children, no. You simply write to the head teacher to deregister. Under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, local authority consent is required first if the child is subject to a child protection investigation or plan (within the last five years), or attends a special school.
Can the local authority force my child into school?
Only if it considers the education, or the home environment, unsuitable. In that case it can intervene, and as a last resort issue a School Attendance Order. That's why it helps to keep an ongoing, simple record of what your child is learning.
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