Home education news · Scotland

Home education in Scotland: why more families are considering it

A calm parent guide to the reported rise, classroom-safety concerns, ASN support pressures, school-confidence worries and Scotland's withdrawal rules.

Read the parent checklist More home education news

28%

reported year-on-year rise in Scottish home schooling/home education in 2024/25

40.5%

of pupils recorded with an additional support need in official Scottish Government 2024 school statistics

Editorial

Lead authorRobin GibbonsFounder & CEO·Latimer Tuition
Reviewed byHeather LatimerTutor Matching & Customer Service·Latimer Tuition
Published15 June 2026
Last reviewed15 June 2026

Current answer

The short answer for Scottish parents

Yes, home education is a lawful option in Scotland, and it appears to be attracting more attention. Scottish Government guidance summarises the duty this way: “Home education is a right conditional upon the parents/carers providing an efficient education suitable to the age, ability, and aptitude of the child.”

The Sunday Times reported local-authority figures showing 2,851 children home schooled or home educated in Scotland in 2024/25, up from 2,222 in 2023/24 — a reported 28% rise. Treat that as attributed reporting, not as official national Scottish Government home-education statistics.

The same report linked the increase with parental worries about classroom violence, falling standards and lack of additional-needs support. Separately, The Guardian reported NASUWT survey figures saying 44% of Scottish respondents had experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils in the previous 12 months, and 90% had been verbally abused. These figures help explain why some parents may be asking questions; they do not prove that every family considering home education is doing so for the same reason.

For parents, the practical point is Scotland’s process. If your child has attended a Scottish public school, you normally need the relevant education authority’s consent before the child is removed from that school roll. The Scottish Government guidance is clear that this consent concerns withdrawal from school, not a separate licence to home educate.

Read the figures carefully: This page treats the 28% increase as a reported figure from The Sunday Times and local authorities, not as an official Scottish Government national total.
Use Scotland’s wording: Scottish guidance mainly uses home education. Home schooling is common parent-language, but Scotland-specific process and ASN wording are more precise.
Do not rush the decision: Classroom safety, anxiety, bullying and ASN support concerns may be urgent for a family, but withdrawal changes who is responsible for day-to-day education and may change available support.

Home education in Scotland: key facts before you decide

Scottish Government guidance frames home education as a lawful choice where parents or carers provide an efficient education suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude. These points apply to Scotland. England, Wales and Northern Ireland use different procedures and, in some areas, different terminology.

Home education is lawful

Scottish law allows parents to educate a child by means other than regular school attendance. Parents remain responsible for an efficient education suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude.

Consent is usually needed after public school attendance

If a child has attended a Scottish public school, parents or guardians must seek the education authority’s consent before withdrawing the child from that school roll. The authority must not unreasonably withhold consent. Scottish Government guidance makes the distinction this way: “consent is needed for withdrawal from school, consent is not needed to home educate in itself.”

The decision aim is six weeks

Scottish Government guidance says local authorities should aim to issue a decision on consent within 6 weeks of the original request, and most requests should be dealt with well within that timescale.

You do not have to give a personal reason

The authority’s focus should be how the child will be educated. Parents may explain safety, bullying, anxiety or ASN concerns if it helps the discussion, but Scottish Government guidance says: “Parents/carers do not have to give a reason for choosing home education when requesting to withdraw their child from school.”

Some children do not need withdrawal consent

Consent is not needed in several situations listed by Scottish guidance, including where the child has never attended a public school, is being withdrawn from an independent school, has finished primary but not started secondary, or is not yet school age. Families are still strongly encouraged to tell the local authority that they intend to home educate.

No teaching qualification is required

Parents are not required to have teaching qualifications or training. They should still be ready to explain objectives, resources, learning activities, social contact and how the child’s individual needs will be met.

No fixed curriculum is required

Local authorities should not specify a curriculum that must be followed. Families may use Curriculum for Excellence as a reference point, but home education can be more structured or more flexible if it remains efficient and suitable.

Annual contact is recommended, not routine inspection

Scottish guidance recommends annual contact between local authorities and known home-educating families, usually through a conversation or update. Evidence can be written, recorded, electronic or discussed, and the format should not be prescriptive.

What the evidence shows — and what it does not show

A balanced view separates official statistics, press-reported figures and union-survey reporting. That helps parents weigh real concerns without treating every headline as proof that all schools are unsafe.

Evidence	What it says	What this means
The Sunday Times / The Times	Reported local-authority figures of 2,851 home-schooled or home-educated children in Scotland in 2024/25, up from 2,222 in 2023/24.	It is a clearly attributed reported rise, not an official national Scottish Government statistic.
The Sunday Times / The Times	Linked the reported rise with classroom violence, falling standards and lack of support for children with additional needs.	It shows reported association and concern, not proven causation.
The Guardian reporting NASUWT survey figures	Reported that 44% of Scottish respondents had experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils in the previous 12 months, while 90% had been verbally abused.	Use as union-survey context for parent concern and teacher concern. Do not imply every school is unsafe.
Scottish Government school statistics 2024	Recorded 40.5% of all pupils — 284,448 individuals — as having an additional support need, up from 36.7% in 2023. The same source says recording changes help explain long-term increases.	Use as official context for the scale of ASN recording, not as proof that ASN pressure caused home-education growth.
Scottish Government home education guidance	Explains parent responsibility, withdrawal consent, annual contact, ASN support cautions, and qualifications planning.	Use as the main authority for practical process and parent checks.

Context

Why parents may be looking again at home education

The official guidance recognises that parents choose home education for many reasons. It lists examples such as dissatisfaction with the system, a child’s reluctance or anxiety about school, issues at school such as bullying, and wanting to support a child with additional support needs in a particular way.

That official list matters because it overlaps with the current news debate without turning it into a single-cause story. A family may be responding to safety worries, anxiety, unmet ASN support, disrupted attendance, declining trust in school, or a mix of pressures. Another family may choose home education for a philosophical, cultural or short-term reason.

Scottish Government guidance also says:

“Home education should always be a choice made by families.” — Scottish Government

For parents, that is a reason to slow the decision down: identify the problem, ask what support can still be provided while the child is on the school roll, and understand what changes if the family takes full responsibility for education at home.

Decision caveat

ASN support: the decision point parents should not skip

For families considering home education because support is not working, the ASN point needs special care. Scotland uses the language of additional support needs (ASN) and additional support for learning (ASL). While a child is on a school roll, the local authority has duties under the ASL framework for children and young people whose education it is responsible for.

Scottish Government home education guidance says home education should not be used as an alternative to the authority providing support a child needs to stay in school or remain under the authority’s responsibility. It also says the duties under the 2004 Act do not extend in the same way to children and young people who are not on a school roll in that area.

In plain English: withdrawing may change what support can be required, requested or offered. It does not mean every form of help disappears, but it does mean parents should ask about available support before the child is removed from the roll.

Ask before withdrawing: What support is currently in place, what has been tried, what can be reviewed, and what would still be available if my child is home educated?
Keep records: Keep dates, meeting notes, support plans, emails and examples of work or missed learning. This helps whether you continue at school, request withdrawal, or ask for a review of support.
Use Scottish terminology: Use ASN and ASL for Scotland. SEN and SEND are more commonly associated with England and should not be the main terminology on this page.

When this advice is not enough

If a child is at immediate risk, is being harmed, is unable to attend safely, or has serious health or wellbeing needs, do not treat home education planning as a substitute for urgent safeguarding, health or emergency support.

What to do instead

Use the school’s safeguarding arrangements, the local authority’s education and ASN contacts, health services, police or emergency services as appropriate. For non-emergency ASN disputes, ask what review, mediation, complaint or additional support for learning options are available before withdrawal.

Decision caveat

Home education should be a choice, not a rushed reaction

It helps to avoid two extremes. Do not dismiss worries about violence, anxiety, bullying, attendance or unmet ASN support. Do not assume home education is the right answer for every family.

School can offer qualified teachers, specialist facilities, peer groups, extracurricular activities, in-school ASN support and established safeguarding arrangements. Home education can offer flexibility, a different learning environment and closer tailoring to a child, but it also places responsibility, planning, costs and social-learning choices on the family.

When this advice is not enough

If the school environment is causing immediate harm or the child cannot safely attend, the family may need urgent support while decisions about education are still being considered.

What to do instead

Ask the school and local authority what can be done now, including safety planning, ASN review, attendance support, temporary arrangements, mediation or complaint options. Home education may still be chosen, but it should be chosen with a clear plan rather than as the only visible way out.

Before withdrawing: a practical ladder of support to try

This is not a requirement before every home-education decision. It is a sensible sequence for parents whose interest in home education has been triggered by safety, anxiety, ASN or loss of confidence in school.

1. Write down the concern

Separate the issues: safety incidents, bullying, anxiety, disrupted learning, unmet ASN support, behaviour in class, attendance, or exam worries. Dates and examples make the discussion clearer.
2. Ask for a school meeting

Ask what has been tried, what can change quickly, who is responsible for follow-up, and when the plan will be reviewed.
3. Ask specifically about ASN or ASL

If your child has ASN, ask how their needs are recorded, what support is in place, what has been reviewed, and what further assessment or advice can be considered.
4. Involve the child where appropriate

Scottish guidance recognises the child’s voice in decisions that affect them. Ask what helps, what feels unsafe or unmanageable, and what kind of learning environment they can realistically sustain.
5. Ask what happens during a withdrawal request

If you request consent, ask how attendance will be treated while the authority considers the request and what support will continue during that period.
6. Draft the home-education plan

Prepare a broad outline of learning aims, resources, activities, social contact, physical activity, and how your child’s needs and interests will be supported.

Checklist: what to check before requesting withdrawal

Use this checklist before sending a formal request to withdraw a child from a Scottish public school roll.

Confirm whether consent applies

If the child has attended a Scottish public school, withdrawal consent normally applies. If an exception may apply, check the Scottish Government list and your local circumstances.
Prepare a short education outline

Include learning aims, approach, resources, broad activities, social contact, physical activity, and how you will support the child’s age, ability, aptitude and needs.
Discuss ASN support before withdrawal

Ask what support is currently required, what can be reviewed while the child remains on the school roll, and what may or may not be available after withdrawal.
Check exam and qualification plans early

For National 5s, Highers or other awards, Scottish guidance says families should investigate arrangements early and identify an approved centre willing to enter the learner. Costs may fall to the family unless local support is offered.
Budget for resources and support

Local authorities are not legally obliged to provide resources for home-educated children or parents. Books, online courses, equipment, activities, exam fees and tuition may need to be funded by the family.
Plan social contact

Home education does not have to mean learning alone. Think about clubs, sport, libraries, community activities, home-education groups, volunteering, college options and trusted peer contact.
Keep the decision child-centred

Consider your child’s views, stress level, relationships, learning needs and long-term options. A plan that relieves pressure this month should also support future learning and wellbeing.
Keep written records

Save the withdrawal request, replies, education outline, support discussions, and examples of learning. They can help with annual contact or later questions about education provision.

A message you can adapt

Suggested wording: asking for support before deciding

When this applies

You are considering home education because of safety, anxiety, bullying, ASN support or loss of confidence, but you want to understand school and local-authority options first.

Suggested wording

Hello [name],

I am considering whether home education may be the right choice for [child’s name]. Before I make any formal request, I would like to understand what support can be offered while [he/she/they] remains on the school roll.

My main concerns are [briefly list safety, anxiety, bullying, attendance, learning or ASN concerns]. Please could we arrange a meeting to discuss:

what support is currently in place;

what can be reviewed or changed;

what options are available under additional support for learning;

how [child’s name]‘s views will be considered; and

what support, if any, would still be available if we choose home education.

I would be grateful for a written note of the next steps after the meeting.

Kind regards, [Your name]

Why this helps

It separates the family’s concerns from the formal withdrawal request, asks about support while the child is still on the school roll, and creates a written record without making unnecessary accusations.

What changes if your child moves from school to home education?

This table helps parents compare the practical implications before making a request.

Area	While on a Scottish public school roll	If home educated	What to check
Education responsibility	The education authority is responsible for school education, with parents involved in decisions.	Parents take full responsibility for providing efficient and suitable education.	Can you sustain the time, planning, resources and learning environment the child needs?
ASN / ASL support	Local-authority duties apply to children and young people whose school education the authority is responsible for.	Duties and available support can change; discretionary support may vary by local authority.	Ask what support can be reviewed before withdrawal and what could still be offered afterwards.
Curriculum	The school works within national and local curriculum expectations.	No fixed curriculum is required, and authorities should not prescribe one.	How will you cover literacy, numeracy, broad activities, interests, physical activity and social learning?
Qualifications	Exam entries and internal assessment are usually managed by the school.	Families may need to identify an approved centre, plan early and pay costs unless support is offered locally.	For Scottish qualifications, start with Scottish Government guidance, then speak to possible approved centres about current arrangements, assessment requirements and costs.
Local authority contact	School attendance, support, records and safeguarding arrangements continue through school systems.	Annual contact with known home-educating families is recommended, but there is no statutory duty to monitor ongoing provision.	How will you show progress if asked — for example through a written update, examples of work, a conversation or digital records?
Social learning	Peer contact, clubs, assemblies, trips and informal social time are built into school life.	Parents need to plan social contact and wider activities deliberately.	What regular clubs, groups, sports, community learning or friendships will support the child?

Key terms Scottish parents will see

These definitions use Scotland-specific wording where possible.

Home education

A parent or carer provides education by means other than regular attendance at a public school, while remaining responsible for efficient and suitable education.

Local authority consent

In Scotland, consent is normally needed before withdrawing a child who has attended a public school from that school roll. The consent is for withdrawal, not permission to home educate in itself.

Additional support needs (ASN)

A child or young person has ASN where, for whatever reason, they are or are likely to be unable without additional support to benefit from school education. This is the Scottish wording to prefer over England-focused SEND language.

Additional support for learning (ASL)

Scotland’s legal and policy framework for identifying and addressing barriers to learning for children and young people whose education an authority is responsible for.

Efficient and suitable education

The standard parents must meet. Scottish legislation does not define it precisely, but guidance points to adult involvement, resources, a learning ethos, broad activities, physical activity and interaction with other children and adults.

Section 37 notice / attendance order

A formal process an education authority can use if it is not satisfied that a child is receiving efficient and suitable education. Scottish guidance presents this as a step after dialogue and evidence-gathering where concerns remain.

Approved centre

For Scottish qualifications, guidance says entries are made through an approved centre, usually a school, college or approved training provider. Families should investigate centres, assessment requirements and costs early.

Good to know

Annual contact does not mean automatic home visits

Scottish guidance strongly recommends annual contact between local authorities and known home-educating families, but says it is not a statutory requirement. It explains:

“There is no statutory duty upon local authorities to monitor ongoing home education provision.” — Scottish Government

Parents may be able to provide information through a conversation, written material, recorded material, electronic material, samples of work or another appropriate form.

On home access, the guidance says:

“the authority does not have a right of access to the home or the child.” — Scottish Government

That does not remove safeguarding duties. If genuine child-protection concerns arise, they should be handled through the appropriate child-protection procedures.

Sources and further reading

These are the main sources behind the Scotland-specific process, terminology, statistics and attributed news context.

Scottish Government home education guidance

Official guidance for local authorities and parents, published 23 January 2025 with an errata update on 28 May 2025.

Open source
Scottish Government: withdrawing a child from school

Official guidance on consent rules, reasons parents choose home education, ASN cautions and the six-week decision aim.

Open source
Scottish Government: contact with local authorities

Official guidance on annual contact, evidence formats, home access and section 37 notices.

Open source
Scottish Government: efficient and suitable education

Official guidance on curriculum flexibility, parent qualifications, learning characteristics and qualifications planning.

Open source
Scottish Government additional support for learning guidance

Covers ASN and ASL definitions and duties.

Open source
Scottish Government school statistics 2024

Provides official ASN and attendance context.

Open source
The Sunday Times / The Times

Attributed reporting for home-education growth figures and reported reasons.

Open source
The Guardian

Provides attributed reporting of NASUWT classroom-violence survey figures.

Open source

Related guidance

More guidance from this section

More guidance from this part of the Ed Centre that may help with the same decision, stage or next step.

Related guidance

Home education guidance in Scotland and Wales for families

A family-facing comparison of the Welsh and Scottish guidance, including child voice, local-authority contact, voluntary home visits and the key ways England differs.

Related guidance

Home education is now part of the government’s social-cohesion debate

A calm parent-facing guide to why home education socialisation and peer contact are now being discussed with stronger oversight — and what UK families should, and should not, take from it.

Related guidance

Home education news and explainers for families

Source-led guides for moments when home-education rules, statistics or local-authority expectations change. Read dates carefully and pair posts with current official guidance for your UK nation.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

Is home education legal in Scotland?

Yes. Home education is a lawful option in Scotland, but parents remain responsible for providing an efficient education suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude. This page is Scotland-focused; England, Wales and Northern Ireland have different procedures.

Do I need permission to home educate in Scotland?

Usually, if your child has attended a Scottish public school, you must seek the relevant education authority’s consent before withdrawing them from that school roll. The consent is for withdrawal from school, not a separate permission to home educate.

Do parents have to give a reason for withdrawing a child?

No. Scottish Government guidance says parents and carers do not have to give a reason for choosing home education when requesting to withdraw a child from school. You may still choose to explain the educational plan, support needs or practical concerns, but the reason itself should not decide whether consent is given.

What happens to ASN support if I home educate?

Support can change. While a child is on a school roll, the local authority has duties under Scotland’s additional support for learning framework for children whose education it is responsible for. Scottish home education guidance says available support should be discussed before withdrawal, because duties do not extend in the same way once a child is not on that school roll.

Can the local authority visit my home or inspect my child's work?

There is no statutory duty upon local authorities to monitor ongoing home education provision, but annual contact is strongly recommended. Scottish guidance says the authority does not have a right of access to the home or the child as part of education contact. Parents can provide evidence in different formats, while genuine child-protection concerns remain separate.

Do home-educated children in Scotland have to follow Curriculum for Excellence?

No fixed curriculum is required by national guidance, and local authorities should not specify a curriculum that must be followed. Families may use Curriculum for Excellence as a helpful reference point, but education still needs to be efficient and suitable.

Can home-educated children sit National 5s or Highers?

Scottish Government guidance says entries for Scottish qualifications or awards must be made through an appropriately approved centre, usually a school, college or approved training provider. Families should investigate arrangements, assessment requirements and costs early, and speak to possible approved centres about current arrangements and costs.

Should I choose home education because school feels unsafe or support is not working?

Home education may be the right choice for some families, but it should not be a rushed substitute for urgent support. Record the concerns, ask the school and local authority what can change while your child remains on the school roll, consider your child’s views, and plan carefully for learning, support, qualifications, costs and social contact before withdrawing.

Official guidance

1.
Scottish Government: Home education guidance
Scottish Government · 2025-01-23 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Main official guidance for local authorities and parents on home education in Scotland. Errata update: 28 May 2025.
2.
Scottish Government: Relevant law
Scottish Government · 2025-01-23 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Official wording on parent responsibility, efficient and suitable education, withdrawal consent, ASN duties and monitoring duties. Errata update: 28 May 2025.
3.
Scottish Government: Withdrawing a child from school
Scottish Government · 2025-01-23 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Official guidance on withdrawal consent, reasons for home education, ASN cautions, consent exceptions and decision timescales. Errata update: 28 May 2025.
4.
Scottish Government: Contact with local authorities
Scottish Government · 2025-01-23 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Official guidance on annual contact, evidence formats, access to the home or child, section 37 notices and child-protection caveats. Errata update: 28 May 2025.
5.
Scottish Government: Efficient and suitable education
Scottish Government · 2025-01-23 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Official guidance on curriculum flexibility, parent qualifications, learning characteristics, qualifications and awards. Errata update: 28 May 2025.
6.
Scottish Government: Additional support for learning guidance
Scottish Government · 2017-12-20 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Statutory guidance for Scotland's additional support for learning framework.
7.
Scottish Government: Additional support needs
Scottish Government · 2017-12-20 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Official definition of additional support needs and examples of factors that may give rise to support needs.
8.
Scottish Government: School statistics 2024
Scottish Government · 2024-12-10 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Official Scottish school statistics used for ASN and attendance context.
9.
Scottish Government: Classes and pupils 2024
Scottish Government · 2024-12-10 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Official source for the 40.5% and 284,448 ASN figure, with a recording caveat.

News and analysis

1.
The Sunday Times: reported home-schooling rise
The Sunday Times / The Times · 2025-08-23 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Press-reported local-authority figures and reported reasons for Scottish home-education growth; not an official national statistics source.
2.
The Guardian: pupil-violence survey reporting
The Guardian · 2025-02-06 · Accessed 2026-06-15
Attributed reporting of NASUWT survey figures on classroom violence and verbal abuse.