What this tool does

It helps you put together a clear, properly worded letter to your child's school, either to take them out of school so you can home educate, or to ask for a place back in school after a period of home education.

The wording matters because schools and local authorities expect certain information, and a vague letter often leads to delays or follow-up questions you could have avoided.

When to use it

Use it if you have decided to home educate and need to write to the head teacher to have your child's name removed from the school roll. Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, parents in England and Wales are responsible for ensuring their child receives a suitable education, and many choose to do this at home. The school cannot refuse a deregistration request for a child of compulsory school age who is not attending a special school under specific arrangements, but you do need to put it in writing.

It is also for parents going the other way, asking a school to admit a child who has been educated at home. This usually means writing to the school or the local authority admissions team to request a place, sometimes in-year rather than at the start of a school year.

If your child attends a special school and was placed there by the local authority, deregistration rules are different and you will need consent from the council before the school can remove your child from the roll.

How it works

You answer a short set of questions about your child, the school, and whether you are deregistering or requesting re-admission. The tool then produces a letter in plain English that you can copy, edit, and send by email or post. Nothing you type is saved once you leave the page, so you can use it as often as you need. It is a starting point, not legal advice, so read the letter through before sending and adjust anything that does not match your situation.