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Home education evidence in England

What evidence of education should home-educating parents keep?

A practical guide to what records are sensible to keep, what local authorities can ask for, and how to handle SEND/EHCP or tutor-note evidence without recreating school paperwork.

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Current answer

What evidence should home-educating parents keep?

For families in England, there is no statutory checklist of home education evidence that every parent must keep, and there is no single prescribed report format. The legal duty is different: parents must make sure a child of compulsory school age receives education that is suitable for that child.

The key legal phrase used in Department for Education guidance is “efficient full-time education suitable” — Department for Education parent guidance. In practice, keep enough to show what your child is learning, how regularly learning happens, what progress is being made, and how the education fits your child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.

Think of this as a small, flexible evidence pack, not a school-style portfolio. It can help you respond calmly if your council asks how suitable education is being provided.

Legal duty vs helpful paper trail

These points keep the distinction clear: records are helpful because they explain the education, not because every family has to keep the same folder.

The duty is suitable education

The legal focus is whether the education is efficient, full-time and suitable to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.

A portfolio is not the legal test

Parents are not required to produce evidence in one prescribed format. A neat folder may help, but a fixed portfolio is not the legal requirement.

You do not have to copy school

GOV.UK says that if you educate your child at home, “you do not have to follow the national curriculum” — GOV.UK. DfE guidance also says home education does not have to use school terms, school hours, formal lessons or formal assessments.

Councils can ask questions

GOV.UK says a council can make an “informal enquiry” to check that suitable education is being provided at home.

Thin responses can increase risk

If a parent does not give enough information about the education being provided, the authority may move from informal contact to formal steps.

What suitable education means in practice

Local authority letters often use legal wording. This table translates the main terms into practical evidence habits.

Plain-English meanings of efficient, full-time and suitable education for home-educating parents in England.

TermPlain-English meaningWhat it means for records

Efficient

Education that achieves what it sets out to achieve.

Keep brief notes on the aims of learning and signs that your child is making progress.

Full-time

There is no fixed home-education hours rule, and education does not have to follow a school timetable.

A weekly or termly activity summary can show regular learning without needing hourly logs.

Suitable

Education fitted to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.

Choose examples that show the education is right for this child, not just a generic list of subjects.

A simple home education evidence checklist

You do not need to turn home learning into a school office. A light, regular habit is usually more useful than a large folder created in a hurry. Consider keeping:

  • Short education statement

    A one-page overview for each child covering aims, approach, interests, age, ability, aptitude and any SEN.

  • Weekly or termly activity notes

    A simple summary of what learning happened and how regular it was.

  • Recent work samples

    Dated writing, maths, project work, practical activities, photos or screenshots where appropriate.

  • Progress notes

    Brief comments on what your child can now do, what has improved and what needs more support.

  • Reading and resources list

    Books, courses, websites, materials, programmes and other resources used.

  • Wider opportunities

    Clubs, trips, sport, volunteering, hobbies, group learning, practical skills and social opportunities.

  • SEND or EHC-plan records

    Relevant plans, review notes, professional advice, adaptations and provision notes.

  • Local authority correspondence

    Emails, forms, replies, meeting notes, dates and copies of any written summaries you send.

  • Tutor notes where relevant

    Lesson reports, homework summaries or progress comments as supporting evidence inside a wider parent-led record.

Evidence examples and what each one can show

Home education evidence can look different from family to family. The useful question is not ‘does this look like school?’, but ‘does this help explain the education being provided?’.

Examples of home education evidence and the suitability points each can help demonstrate.

Evidence typeExamplesWhat it helps show

Learning overview

One-page summary, termly plan, child-specific aims.

How education is suitable for this child.

Activity notes

Weekly notes, dated diary entries, broad timetable.

Regularity and breadth without needing school-style hours.

Work samples

Writing, maths pages, project photos, science notes, creative work.

Current level, range of learning and progress over time.

Progress comments

Parent notes, tutor comments, completed milestones.

What has changed, improved or still needs support.

Wider learning

Clubs, trips, sports, volunteering, practical skills.

Social, physical and wider development.

SEND or EHC-plan evidence

EHC plan, review notes, professional advice, adaptations.

How provision takes account of special educational needs.

Tutor records

Lesson reports, homework summaries, feedback notes.

Subject support within a wider parent-led evidence file.

Current answer

How local authority contact usually works

In most elective home education cases, the council is not approving a curriculum or a fixed report format. Its role is to act when it appears a child may not be receiving suitable education. GOV.UK describes the first stage as an “informal enquiry” — GOV.UK.

The council may ask for detailed information, a written report, work samples, a meeting, to see the child, or a visit. That does not mean every request is automatically mandatory under education law alone. A good written summary is often a sensible first response because it engages with the education question and gives you a record of what you have provided.

There is a practical risk in ignoring contact or sending no information about education. If the authority is not satisfied, it can move to formal steps. DfE parent guidance refers to a section 437(1) notice and says parents must be given “at least 15 days” to respond — Department for Education parent guidance. If the authority remains unsatisfied and considers school attendance necessary, a school attendance order may follow.

What a council may ask for, and what is not automatically mandatory

This table is about education-law enquiries. If safeguarding or welfare concerns are raised, other duties and processes may apply.

Common local authority requests during home education contact and practical ways to respond.

RequestHow to frame itPractical response

Written report or form

Often requested; not one national format.

Send a concise written summary that addresses suitability.

Work samples

May help evidence learning; not a prescribed universal pack.

Share a small, dated, representative selection if it helps explain the education.

Home visit

The council can ask, but entry is not automatically required under education law alone.

Offer written information or another meeting format if that is clearer or more comfortable.

Seeing the child

May be requested, especially where the authority has concerns.

Handle calmly and keep a written note of what is agreed and discussed.

Annual update

Often part of local EHE practice once the authority is satisfied.

Read your own council’s EHE policy, while remembering that local forms are not the national law.

Replying with a written education summary

Example wording for replying to a local authority enquiry

When this applies

A local authority asks for information about your child's home education and you want to respond in writing.

Suggested wording

Hello, thank you for your email. I am providing a written summary of the education currently being provided for [child’s name]. It covers our approach, the main areas of learning, recent examples of work and progress, and how the education is suitable for [child’s name]‘s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs. Please let me know if there is a specific education concern you would like me to address.

Why this helps

It engages with the enquiry, keeps a written record and focuses the discussion on suitability rather than assuming one fixed form, meeting or visit is the only way to respond.

What to include in a home education report or summary

A report does not have to be long, and this is not a national form. Use it as a clear structure if you want to explain your provision in writing.

Recommendation

1. Education overview

Briefly explain the child’s learning approach, aims and main subjects or areas of development.

Recommendation

2. Regular learning activity

Summarise what happens across a typical week or term, without trying to recreate school hours.

Recommendation

3. Recent evidence

Choose a small set of dated work samples, photos, project notes or practical examples.

Recommendation

4. Progress and next steps

Explain what the child can now do and what the family is working on next.

Recommendation

5. Support and SEND context

Mention adaptations, tutor input, professional advice or EHC-plan information where relevant.

Sources and further reading

These are the main sources used for this guide. Official sources carry the legal and process points; Latimer sources are used only for Latimer-specific tutoring claims.

  • GOV.UK: Educating your child at home

    Public GOV.UK overview of home education, curriculum, council enquiries and SEN permission points.

    Open source

  • Department for Education: elective home education guidance

    England guidance collection for parents and local authorities, last updated 19 August 2024.

    Open source

  • Department for Education parent guidance PDF

    Detailed parent guidance on duties, suitable education, local authority contact and formal notices.

    Open source

  • Department for Education local-authority guidance PDF

    Guidance for local authorities on enquiries, evidence, non-response and SEND points.

    Open source

  • SEND Code of Practice

    Official SEND guidance collection, last updated 12 September 2024.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: school attendance order information

    Public GOV.UK explanation of school attendance orders and the 15-day evidence window.

    Open source

  • UK Parliament: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

    Used only for the legal-change note, not for detailed commencement advice.

    Open source

  • Latimer Tuition FAQs

    Used for DBS, online-first tutoring and lesson-report statements.

    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

Children Not in School register: England Guidance

The 2026 Act has received Royal Assent, but several register, consent and oversight duties depend on start dates and guidance. Here is what families can understand and prepare for now.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

Are home-educating parents legally required to keep evidence?

In England, there is no statutory checklist of home education evidence that every parent must keep, and there is no single prescribed format. The duty is to provide suitable education. Keeping clear records is still sensible because it helps you explain the education if the local authority asks.

What evidence is acceptable to show home education is suitable?

Useful evidence can include an education overview, activity notes, dated work samples, progress comments, reading or resource lists, wider learning opportunities, SEND or EHC-plan records, local authority correspondence and tutor reports where relevant. The evidence should show what your child is learning, how regularly learning happens and how provision fits that child.

Do I have to follow the national curriculum when home educating?

No. GOV.UK says that if you educate your child at home, “you do not have to follow the national curriculum”. You still need to provide suitable full-time education for your child, so it helps to explain your chosen approach and why it fits your child.

Do I have to write a home education report for the local authority?

There is no single national report format. If the council asks for information, a short written summary is often a practical way to respond because it gives a clear record of your education approach, recent evidence, progress and any SEND context.

Can the local authority insist on a home visit?

A council can ask to meet or visit, but that is not the same as an automatic right of entry under education law alone. Many families choose to respond in writing first. If there are safeguarding or welfare concerns, other duties may be involved.

What happens if I ignore a local authority enquiry?

Ignoring contact can increase risk. If the authority does not receive enough information to be satisfied that suitable education is being provided, it may move to formal steps such as a section 437(1) notice and, if still unsatisfied, a school attendance order.

What evidence should I keep if my child has an EHC plan?

Keep the EHC plan, review notes, professional advice, adaptation records, examples of provision and correspondence with the local authority. Mainstream and special-school situations differ, so check the current SEND guidance carefully if your child is on a school roll or in a special school.

Can tutor lesson reports be used as home education evidence?

Yes, as supporting evidence. Tutor lesson reports, homework summaries and progress notes can help show subject support and learning activity. They do not replace the parent’s duty to provide suitable education overall, and they do not guarantee local authority acceptance.

Sources and references

Sources and references

Official guidance

Internal pages