Most parents who choose to teach their children at home have very strong views on education and it is their right in law to take primary responsibility for what, when and how their children learn instead of delegating it to a school.

Local authorities in England and Wales know of around 20,000 home educated children. These children are primarily known because they have been in the school system. If a parent wishes to take a child out of school in order to home educate, there is a legal process which must be followed and which culminates in the school notifying the local authority.

Since there is no legal duty for parents to notify the authorities if the child has never been to school, there will also be a number of home educated children who are not officially known to the authority.

The most common reasons for home education are

• to provide a more personalised and adaptable learning environment for the child;
• because the parents object to the National Curriculum and teaching to the test in schools;
• because young children are felt not to be ready for formal academic instruction;
• in order for the family to spend more time together;
• as an expression of the family's philosophical or religious convictions; or
• in reaction to negative events in school such as bullying

In addition, a number of children with special educational needs are home educated when school cannot meet the child's needs.

As a parent, you must ensure your child receives a full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude from the age of five but you do not need to be a qualified teacher and your child is not obliged to follow the National Curriculum or take national tests. But equally, there are no funds directly available from central government for parents who decide to educate their children at home though some local authorities provide guidance for parents, including free National Curriculum materials

Local authorities can make informal enquiries of parents who are educating their children at home to establish that a suitable education is being provided and you can provide evidence your child is receiving an efficient and suitable education by writing a report and providing samples of your child's work; inviting a local authority representative to your home, with or without your child being present or meeting a local authority representative outside the home, with or without your child being present - representatives have no automatic right of access to your home.

If it appears to the local authority that a child is not receiving a suitable education, then it might serve a school attendance order.

It's advisable, but not compulsory, to inform your local authority of any significant changes in your circumstance relevant to your child's education, like a change of address