Homeschooling in Wales

Yes. Wales shares the Education Act 1996 with England. Section 7 says parents must make sure their child of compulsory school age receives efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any additional learning needs, "either by regular attendance at school or otherwise".

The Welsh Government publishes statutory Elective home education guidance for local authorities and a Home education handbook for parents. Councils must have regard to the statutory guidance.

You do not need to follow the Curriculum for Wales, keep school hours or be a qualified teacher. The education must be suitable for your child.

• Never been to school. You do not currently need permission. Letting your local authority know helps it offer support and avoids your child being treated as missing education.
• Leaving school. Write to the headteacher saying you are home educating and asking for your child to be removed from the register. A phone call or conversation is not enough – it must be in writing. The school removes your child's name and must tell the local authority within 10 school days. The parent handbook includes a model letter.
• Special schools. If your child attends a special school, the school will not remove their name until the local authority has agreed.
• Until removal. Keep your child attending until you know they are off roll. Simply stopping attendance without written notice can be treated as unauthorised absence.

Each local authority in Wales has an elective home education contact or team. Councils do not approve home education, but they do have a duty to identify children who are not receiving a suitable education.

The Welsh statutory guidance expects local authorities to meet home educating families at least once a year to check that the education remains suitable and that the child is progressing. It also says councils should see and speak with the child as part of judging suitability. You can discuss with the council where and how the meeting takes place.

If the local authority is not satisfied that your child is receiving a suitable education, the same formal process as in England applies: a notice under section 437 of the Education Act 1996 and, if needed, a school attendance order.

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is a UK Act, but the Senedd agreed that its children not in school provisions should apply in Wales. When in force, they will mean:

• Children not in school registers. Local authorities will keep registers of children not in school, and parents of home educated children will have to provide information for them.
• Consent for some children. Children subject to child protection enquiries will not be able to be removed from a school roll to be home educated without local authority consent.
• Additional learning needs. When judging whether education is suitable, councils must consider any additional learning needs.

The Welsh Government has said these measures will not stop parents home educating or require them to follow the curriculum. They are not yet in force. The detail will be set by Welsh regulations and statutory guidance after public consultation, and the Welsh Government said decisions on next steps would fall to the government formed after the 2026 Senedd election. Check gov.wales for updates.

You have the same right to home educate a child with additional learning needs, including a child with an individual development plan (IDP) or a statement of special educational needs. The education you provide must be suitable for those needs.

If your child has an IDP or statement, ask the local authority to review it when you start home educating. If your child is at a special school, you need the local authority's agreement before they can be taken off the register.

The Welsh Government publishes a page specifically on ALN and elective home education. Read it before you decide, and ask your council what support it can offer.

Home educated young people in Wales can sit GCSEs and A-levels as independent (private) candidates. The Welsh statutory guidance says all local authorities have agreed to accept home educated independent candidates at an identified exam centre, and the Welsh Government has worked with councils on access to WJEC exams there.

Parents are responsible for the cost of exams. Ask your local authority which centre it uses and what the deadlines are. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) also has a search tool for centres across the UK that may accept private candidates.

The Welsh statutory guidance encourages councils to offer support to home educating families where resources allow. What is available varies between authorities – it can include advice, activities or learning resources – so check your council's elective home education page.

The Welsh Government's home education handbook is written for parents and covers starting out, working with the local authority and finding support.