Educational & Social Services

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Home Education

Home Education is a key aspect of parental choice. The aim of the Education Authority is to promote a positive partnership arrangement with parents who wish to educate their children at home.

Parents who wish to educate their child(ren) at home require to inform the Education Authority that they wish to withdraw their child from school in order to educate them at home and to request the Authority’s consent.

It is important that parents write to the Education Authority as early as possible and where reasonably practical, in advance of the date that they wish to withdraw their child from school. They also should include initial proposals as to how they intend to provide education for their child.

The Education Authority has a duty to respond to a parents request. Agreement by the Education Authority is based on the provision which parents intend to make. It needs to be suitable for the child’s age, aptitude and ability and any special educational needs which he/she may have.

Parents are not required to seek the consent of the Education Authority in order to home educate their child if:

• Their child has never attended a public school
• Their child has never attended a public school in the Authority’s area
• Their child has been withdrawn from an independent school
• Their child has finished primary education in one school but has not started secondary education in another
• The school the child has been attending has closed

In the last two cases parents may simply notify the Authority that they intend to home educate.

View the parent's guide to Home Education

Contact Information