Your Guide to Starting Home Education in the UK

Editor's Note: This guide is based on our own journey of starting home education in the UK with our three children. Last updated: 12.11.25.

The decision to home educate our children was both exciting and a little scary. We were embarking on a unique journey to tailor our children's learning, but the big question was: where do we actually begin? If you're feeling the same way, this guide walks you through the practical steps we took to start our home education journey here in the UK.

Step 1: Understanding Your 'Why'

Before looking at curriculums or timetables, we spent time reflecting on our core reasons for choosing home education. Were we seeking a more personalised pace? Did we want more flexibility for family life? Getting clear on our 'why' became our compass, guiding every decision we made afterwards and helping us stay confident in our choice.

Step 2: Understanding the UK Legal Landscape

This is simpler than many people think! In England and Wales, you do not need to be a qualified teacher, and there is no formal registration process to home educate.

The key thing to know is that as a parent, you are legally responsible for ensuring your child receives a full-time education suitable to their age, ability, and any special needs they may have. Your local authority may make informal contact to check this is happening, but in our experience, this has been a supportive, light-touch process. We found the official government guidance, 'Elective Home Education: guide for parents' on the .GOV website, to be the most reliable source of information.

Step 3: Choosing Your Educational Approach

We learned there's no single "right way" to home educate. We explored different philosophies to find what fit our family:

• Structured/Traditional: This mirrors a school-like approach with set timetables and curricula. We use The National Curriculum in England as our core guide, which gives us a clear structure.

• Charlotte Mason: This focuses on short lessons, quality literature ("living books"), nature study, and hands-on experiences.

• Unschooling: A child-led approach where learning is driven entirely by the child's interests and curiosity.
  
  

We didn't pick just one! We created a blended approach, using the National Curriculum as our backbone but allowing plenty of time for child-led projects and outdoor exploration.

Step 4: Building Your Curriculum

You don't have to create everything from scratch. Here’s how we built our learning plan:

• Pre-packaged Curriculum: These are full programmes you can buy. We use Scholastic The National Curriculum.

• Online Resources: We rely heavily on UK-based sites like Oak National Academy for free video lessons, Twinkl for worksheets, and BBC Bitesize for topic introductions.

• The Mix and Match Approach: This is what works best for us. We use a variety of books and online resources.
  
  

Step 5: Creating a Routine, Not a Rigid Schedule

We found that a flexible routine works much better than a strict, school-like timetable for our family. We block out time for core subjects like maths and English in the morning when our children are most focused, but we leave afternoons free for projects, outdoor play, and trips to the library or museum.

Step 6: Setting Up Your Learning Space

You don't need a dedicated classroom. We started at our dining table! The key is having a designated, organised space. We have shelves for books and resources, a standing whiteboard, and a box of basic supplies like pens, paper, and craft materials. The whole world becomes your classroom—our backyard and local park are just extensions of our learning space.

Step 7: Tackling the Socialisation Question

This is the biggest myth about home education! Our children have a rich social life. They interact with:

• Other children in our local home education groups for park meet-ups and group activities.

• Peers at their sports clubs and other extracurricular classes.

• A wide range of ages, from their younger sibling to family friends and adults in our community.
  
  

Step 8: Finding Your Support Network

This is crucial. Connecting with other home educating families has been our lifeline. We've found incredible support, shared resources, and friendship through local groups and online forums. Knowing you're not alone on this journey makes all the difference.

Conclusion: You Can Do This

We started with just a pen, paper, and a few free online resources. You don't need to have everything figured out on day one. Home education is a journey you learn from every single day. By understanding the legalities, finding your approach, and connecting with a community, you can create a fulfilling and successful home education experience for your family.

The Uwah Family