Q.Is It Legal?

A:YES - it is the parent’s duty to ensure that the child receives a proper education (Education Act 1996, Section 7; Education (Scotland) Act 1980, section 30; Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, Article 45). Children of all ages can learn at home.

Q.Do I have to inform the Local Education Authority?

A:NO - if your child has never been registered at a state school (or if you move to an area served by another LEA) you are not obliged to notify the LEA, although you may do so if you wish. If you are taking your child out of a state school in England or Wales the head teacher must remove the child’s name from the register and inform the LEA.

YES - if you are withdrawing your child from a state school in Scotland.

Q.Do I have to follow the National Curriculum?

A:NO - the law states that children may be educated according to the wishes of their parents (Education Act 1996, s 9; Education (Scotland) Act 1980, s 28;Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 Art. 44)

Q.Do I have to be a teacher?

A:NO - enthusiasm and commitment are needed, not qualifications. Many parents learn alongside their children, so the whole family benefits from the experience.

Q.Can a child with SEN be educated at home?

A:Yes. Section 7 of the 1996 Education Act (what was Section 36 of the 1944 Education Act) applies to all children including those with special educational needs. The law relating to SEN in Part III of the Educational Act 1993.

Q.Will I have to arrange for SAT's testing? 

A:SAT's testing is only a requirement at state schools and is therefore not relevant to home-education. Your child will not be tested by the LEA.

Q.Can my child still take exams? 

A:Yes, you can arrange for children to take them as external candidates at various exam centres such as collages of further education. You will need to contact collages and make enquiries and talk to other home educators in your area. You can use corrispondence courses such as the National Extention Collage (who offer a discount to home educators. But there are no grants available to cover the costs.

Q.Will my child be Socially isolated?

A:There is lots of support around for home educating children, and in most parts of the country there are plenty of things happening and plenty of opportunity to socialise. This is frequently the first concern for new comers to home education and is usually of the least concern for established home educators.

Q.Is there any way of contacting other home educating families?

A:Yes, just join my forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimsandhomeeducation/ There are many Muslim families that have already decided to home educate their children. Just join us.