DG Home Education
Parents/carers can make a request to home educate their child rather than have them taught at school. They must however provide an efficient education that is suitable for their age and abilities.
Withdrawing your child from school
If a parent/carer wants to withdraw their child from school in order to home educate them, they must inform the local authority and request their consent. Technically you are not applying to ‘Home Educate’ rather to remove them from a school roll.
The easiest way for parents to complete this process is using the online form on the Dumfries and Galloway Council Home Education webpage. This form also collects information about the parents outline for an efficient and suitable education (see below).
Alternatively, parents can send us a letter, to:
Home Education Team
Militia House
109/111 English Street
Dumfries
DG1 2HR
Or email: HomeEducation@dumgal.gov.uk
Make sure to include parents contact details and the child’s:
- full name
- date of birth
- current school
What happens next
Dumfries and Galloway will then contact the parent/carer directly to progress their request to withdraw their child Dumfries and Galloway Education and seek the views of the child.
Parents/Carers will then be asked to inform Dumfries and Galloway how they intend to provide an efficient and suitable education. They will then receive a letter informing them whether their request has been granted or whether further information is required.
Whilst the request is being processed the child should continue to attend school. Any periods of non-attendance should be followed up by school in the usual way.
If consent is granted, the child’s name will be removed from the school roll.
If consent is not granted
If consent is not granted, we will be clear about why the request has been refused. Parents/carers will be given the opportunity to address why it has been refused. They can also resubmit their request.
Situations where you do not need to request consent
Consent is not needed if a child:
- has never attended a public school
- has never attended a public school in that authority’s area
- is being withdrawn from an independent school
- has finished primary education in one school but has not started secondary education in another
- has been attending a school that has closed
Formal qualifications
There is no legal requirement for children to sit a particular set of examinations. If a parent/carer wants their child to take a particular qualification, they should investigate thoroughly whether, and how easily, their child is able to access examination and assessment arrangements as an external candidate.
They can make arrangements for their child to sit formal exams, for example, through their local college. Parents/carers are responsible for any costs associated with this.
Children with additional support needs
A parent/carers right to home educate their child is not changed if they have additional support needs. However, it is reasonable for us to ask how they plan to cater for their needs at home.
We are not obligated to provide financial or other support for children with additional support needs who are home educated.
CSP
If the request to Home Educate a child is approved any CSP (Coordinated Support Plan) in place becomes defunct.
Contact us
For further information, email: supportinglearners@dumgal.gov.uk
