Letter Asking to Home School a Child
Home schooling - when a child receives his or her education at home rather than in a traditional school - is legal in the UK. Under the law of the Education Act, each parent has a duty to make sure that their child has an education, but that education is not specified and this can include learning at home. But if a child is either currently attending a school or has been registered by you as about to attend (for example in year 6 at a primary school and registered to start year 7 of a secondary school), then parents have a duty to "de-register" their child. This can be done in the form of a written letter to the school's head teacher. This letter is not supposed to ask permission from the school for the parent to home school - as legally, a home education does not have to be sanctioned by a school. Instead, the letter should ask the school to remove your child from its register of pupils.
The home education support group 'Education Otherwise' has more information on the deregistration process from school to home education. It is a good idea to keep the letter addressed to the school as simple as possible, not waffling about reasoning. In fact, you merely have to ask for your child to be de-registered from a school, you do not actually have to tell the school anything about your education plans for your child, such as teaching your child at home, although many parents choose to do so as they may later require the school's help with things like examination entrance and even education resources.
The letter format set out below is a sample letter addressed to a head teacher from parents who have made the decision to home school their child. It can be used as an example of the kind of thing you need to explain to a school to ensure a positive response.
The School House
School Lane
Schoolville
England
Family Home
Anytown
England
1 November 2008
Dear Headteacher
We are the parents of Robert Powert, currently in form 4f, and are writing to you because after much thought and consultation with Robert, we have decided to withdraw our son from the school education system in order to take personal charge of his education. We are writing to request that you please take Robert's name off the school's register as of the 1 December. This is in legal accordance with Education (Pupil Registration) Regulation 8(1)(d) 2006, as from 1 December Robert will be receiving his education in a format otherwise than that provided at school.
We would be grateful if you could please confirm that you have received this letter and that you will be taking Robert's name off the register on 1 December.
We would appreciate written confirmation to the address above.
With thanks for your time and best wishes
[signature]
Mr and Mrs Powert, mother and father of Robert Powert(form 4f)
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