F-01 · Foundations
Your first step.
Deregistration.
Once the decision is made, one short written letter to school is all you need to begin. This guide covers the whole process — from that first letter to your first contact with the Local Authority — so you can act with confidence at every step.
🌱 First things first
Do I actually need
to deregister?
The answer comes down to one simple question: is your child currently on a school's register? Here's how to know which path is yours.
My child is registered at a school
A short written letter to the school is all you need before you begin. This guide walks you through it, step by step.
My child has never been to school
There's nothing to deregister. You're free to begin home educating without writing to anyone — no letter, no LA, no forms needed. You can simply start.
If your child hasn't yet reached compulsory school age — which is the term after their fifth birthday — the same applies. There's no formal deregistration needed. If they were in a nursery or had a place reserved, you simply let the setting know they won't need it, without mentioning home education specifically. It keeps things straightforward and avoids unnecessary paperwork before it's even relevant.
✉️ Step 1
Writing
the letter
Your letter to school is a brief, formal notification that you've made your decision. It doesn't need to be long — it just needs to be in writing, and it needs to mention the regulation that gives the school clear guidance on what to do.
What it needs to cover
At its heart, the letter is simply letting the school know that you've decided to home educate, and that your child's last day will be on a specific date. That's the core of it. Including the regulation number — even though it sounds technical — actually helps things move faster, because it gives the school clear, unambiguous guidance on what they need to do.
You don't need to justify your decision, give your reasons, or commit to any meetings. This is a notification, not the beginning of a negotiation.
Take the template with you
Pre-formatted for Word and Google Docs — teal placeholders, correct regulation reference, ready to fill in and send.
Google Docs: download the file, then upload it to Google Drive — it opens natively in Docs and keeps all formatting.
A template to get you started
Here's a warm, clear letter that covers everything it needs to. The highlighted sections are where you'll fill in your own details — everything else can be used just as it is, or adjusted to sound more like you.
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address]
[Today's Date]
[Head Teacher's Name]
[School Name]
[School Address]
Dear [Head Teacher's Name],
Re: [Child's Full Name] — Date of Birth: [DOB]
After a great deal of thought, we have decided to take on full responsibility for our [son/daughter]'s education by home educating them. This is a decision we feel positive and confident about, made in accordance with Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
We're writing to let you know that [child's name]'s last day at school will be [today's date], and to ask that you kindly remove their name from the school register from that point, in line with Regulation 9(1)(f) of The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.
We want to reassure you that [he/she/they] will receive a full-time education that is suited to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.
We've already spent time preparing and feel genuinely ready for this next step. With that in mind, a meeting at this point isn't something we're looking for — though we appreciate the offer if one is made. The decision is made, and we're looking forward to what's ahead.
Thank you for everything the school has provided. We wish you, the staff, and [child's name]'s classmates all the very best.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
📬 Step 2
Sending it —
to school only
One thing that catches families off guard: your letter goes to the school, not to the Local Authority. The school handles the notification to the LA — that's their responsibility, not yours.
How to send it — and keep a simple record
The most reliable approach is to send your letter both by email and by signed-for post on the same day. The email gives you an instant timestamp; the signed-for letter gives you delivery confirmation. Together, they mean you have a clear, undisputable record of when the school received your notification.
Keep copies of everything — the letter itself, your sent email, and any delivery confirmation. You'll rarely need to refer back to them — but having a clear record means you're covered if you ever do.
⏳ Step 3
What happens
after you send it
Once your letter is in, the school removes your child from the register and passes your details to the Local Authority. What comes next varies from family to family — and most of it is straightforward once you know what to expect.
The school, the LA, and the waiting
After your child's last day, the school should remove them from the register and pass your details to the Local Authority's EHE (Elective Home Education) team. How quickly this happens — and whether the LA then reaches out to you — varies a lot depending on where you live.
Some families hear from their LA within days. Others wait weeks. And some never hear from them at all — which is entirely fine and actually quite common. This is sometimes called being "off radar," and there's nothing wrong with it. You're not required to chase the LA or make yourself known to them.
🤝 Step 4 (if needed)
If the school
is slow to act
The vast majority of schools handle deregistration without any fuss. Occasionally a school may ask you to come in for a meeting first, or suggest things take a little longer than expected. Here's how to handle that, gently but confidently.
A polite follow-up is usually all it takes
Schools are sometimes simply unsure of the process — and a friendly reminder, reiterating the regulation, is usually enough to move things along. Something like: "As noted in our original letter, Regulation 9(1)(f) of the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 requires that deregistration is actioned promptly — could you let us know that this has been completed?"
If the school suggests you need to attend a meeting before anything can proceed, it's worth knowing that's not quite right. A meeting may well be offered — and you're completely free to attend if you'd like to — but it isn't a condition of deregistration. Your written notification stands on its own, regardless.
🏛️ Step 5
First contact from
the Local Authority
At some point — days after you deregister, months later, or perhaps never — the LA's EHE team will be in touch. Here's what to look out for and how to approach it with real confidence.
What a good first letter looks like
A well-written first letter from the LA welcomes you to home education, signposts local groups and activities, and makes clear that they're simply making an informal enquiry about your provision — not monitoring you, not inspecting you, and not demanding access to your home or child.
The reality is that some LA letters are warm and genuinely helpful. Others can feel a little more demanding than they need to — not usually through bad intent, but because the person writing them isn't fully up to speed with what home educators are and aren't required to provide. Knowing that tends to make those letters feel much less daunting.
📝 Step 6
Replying to
the LA
When the LA does get in touch, it's always worth writing back — even if their letter contains things that don't quite feel right. Replying in writing, in your own way and at a pace that suits you, keeps you in control of the conversation.
Your provision and resource report
Rather than filling in the LA's forms, most home educating families write what's called a provision and resource report — a short, readable overview of how they home educate. One to two pages is plenty. You're describing the shape of your child's education: how it's full time, how it fits their age, ability, aptitude and any special needs, and how literacy and numeracy are part of it.
It doesn't need to look like a school report. It doesn't need to reference the national curriculum. It just needs to give the LA a genuine, honest sense of how your child is learning — in whatever form that takes for your family.
If the LA has concerns
If, after reading your report, the LA isn't fully satisfied, they should explain their specific concerns clearly in writing and give you an opportunity to respond. A follow-up report that addresses those points is usually all it takes. Most families who reach this stage find that a more detailed, thoughtful response resolves things quickly.
In the rare cases where things move further — such as a formal Section 437 notice — responding with a thorough written report remains the right approach. School Attendance Orders are genuinely uncommon, and the vast majority of families never come close to this point.
The longer rhythm — annual updates
Once the LA is satisfied with your provision, they should be in touch roughly once a year with a brief update request. A short written update — a page or so covering any significant changes to your approach — is more than adequate for this. Think of it as a light check-in rather than a full assessment.
Most families find that once they've settled into a rhythm with their LA, these annual moments become entirely routine — a small administrative touch in an otherwise rich, free, and expansive educational life.
🗺️ The whole journey
Every path,
at a glance
From making the decision to settling into your home education life — every branch of the journey, mapped in one place.
💡 A few gentle heads-ups
Things worth
keeping in mind
Most deregistrations go smoothly. These are the things that occasionally catch families off guard — all easily navigated once you know about them.
Date the letter for today
A future date can leave your child technically still on the register and cause confusion. Today's date — or the day before term, if you're writing during a holiday — keeps everything clean.
Write rather than phone
A phone call is friendly but doesn't leave a trail. Starting the process in writing means you always have a clear record to refer back to, should anything need clarifying.
Visits are your choice
You get to decide how you communicate with the LA. A written report is entirely sufficient — visits aren't a legal requirement, and the decision about whether to have one is yours alone.
Their forms may not fit your life
LA forms are often designed around school-style education. Writing your own report in your own words is often a much better fit — and you're within your rights to do exactly that.
One word to sidestep
Avoid "deschooling" in anything you send the LA. The DfE guidance flags it unhelpfully. "Settling-in period" or "transition time" says the same thing without any of the complications.
Always write back
Even if an LA letter feels off or contains something you'd dispute, it's worth replying. You can challenge and correct things — just do it calmly, in writing, and keep a copy.
Less is often more
A clear, honest one or two-page report tends to land better than a lengthy one. You're not trying to prove everything — you're simply giving the LA a genuine sense of how your child is learning.
You don't need to notify the LA directly
The school does this for you. Your letter goes to the school, and they take it from there. Contacting the LA yourself before the deregistration is processed can sometimes create more admin than it saves.
School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024, Reg. 9(1)(f) — the school's obligation to remove your child from the register promptly on written notice.
Education Act 1996, Section 437 — the LA's power (rarely used) to issue a formal notice if they consider provision unsuitable.
EHE Guidance for Local Authorities (DfE, August 2024) — what LAs can and cannot require from you. Read on GOV.UK →
Children's Wellbeing & Schools Act 2026 — introduces a registration scheme; most provisions not yet in force. Our explainer →
✅ The takeaway
What to
remember
⚡ Deregistration — the essentials
- If your child is on a school register, a short written letter to the school is the one step you need to take before you begin home educating.
- If your child has never been to school, there's nothing to deregister — you're free to simply begin.
- Your letter goes to the school only — not the LA. The school passes your details on; that's their responsibility.
- Date it for today. Include Regulation 9(1)(f) so the school can act easily. Keep your proof of delivery.
- If the school is slow to respond, a polite written follow-up citing the regulation is usually enough to move things along.
- The LA may be in touch, or they may not. Either is fine — you're not required to chase them.
- If the LA does get in touch, always reply in writing — but in your own words and on your own terms, with a provision and resource report rather than their forms.
- Avoid "deschooling" in any LA correspondence. "Settling-in period" works just as well and without the complications.
- Keep all communication written throughout. It's simply good practice and means you always have a clear record.
- School Attendance Orders are genuinely rare. The vast majority of families settle into home education without ever coming close to that point.
📚 Keep reading
Your next guides
Deregistration is step one. Here's where to go next.
Legal Compass
Your rights, the LA's duties, and home education law explained in plain English.
Read the guide → 04 · The LibraryThe Wellbeing Act
What the Children's Wellbeing & Schools Act 2026 actually means in practice.
Read the guide → 05 · The LibraryThe Compliance Portfolio
How to write a provision report that gives the LA what they need, stress-free.
Read the guide → 01 · The LibraryThe Great Reset
How to settle into home education and find your family's own rhythm.
Read the guide →You've taken the first step.
Here's what comes next.
LifeLearn is where UK home-educating families find vetted local providers, real-world projects, and a community of parents at every stage — including parents who've been exactly where you are right now. Dads too.