Quick Answer
What can a local authority ask for from home educating families in England?
A local authority can ask for written information about your child's education, request a meeting or home visit (which you can refuse), and ask to see samples of your child's work. They cannot force entry to your home, demand formal assessments, require you to follow the National Curriculum, or insist on seeing lesson plans. You are not legally required to register with your LA to home educate in England.
Home education in England gives you extraordinary freedom — but it also comes with a particular kind of anxiety. If your local authority makes contact, many parents find themselves paralysed by uncertainty: What exactly do they have the right to ask for? What am I legally required to show them? Can they come to my house? What happens if I don't comply?
The good news is that your rights are clearer than you might think. This guide walks through exactly what your local authority can and cannot ask for under English law, what constitutes adequate evidence of education, and how to prepare a portfolio that satisfies them every time — without compromising your privacy or your autonomy as a parent.
What Does the Law Actually Say?
In England, there is no legal requirement to register with your local authority to home educate. This is a fundamental point: elective home education is a legal right, and you do not need anyone's permission to exercise it.
However, local authorities have a statutory duty under Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 to make enquiries about any child who is not registered at a school and does not appear to be receiving full-time education. This is where the confusion often starts. An enquiry is not an inspection. It is not an accusation. It is a local authority's legal obligation to check that education is actually happening.
When a local authority makes contact, they are typically looking for one thing: evidence that your child is receiving a suitable full-time education.
What Constitutes "Suitable Full-Time Education"?
The legal test for suitable education comes from case law and Department for Education guidance. A suitable education is one that is age-appropriate, matched to your child's developmental stage and ability; is full-time, broadly equivalent to the time a child would spend in school (roughly 25 hours per week, though this is flexible); covers a broad range of subjects including not just maths and English, but also humanities, sciences, physical education, and creative subjects; and prepares the child for adult life, including life skills, independence, and pathways to further education or employment.
Importantly, the law does not specify how this education must be delivered. It can be structured or unstructured. It can be school-at-home or child-led learning. It can involve online courses, tutors, co-ops, or a mix of everything. What matters is the outcome: that your child is learning across a broad range of subjects and making progress.
What Can Your Local Authority Actually Ask For?
When a local authority makes contact, they typically ask one of several things. First, they may ask: "Can you tell us about your child's education?" This is a request for information. You are not legally required to respond, but most parents find it helpful to do so. A brief letter outlining what your child is studying, how you're delivering it, and what progress they're making is usually sufficient.
Second, they may ask: "Can we visit your home?" Local authorities sometimes request a home visit. You have the right to refuse. There is no legal power for a local authority to force entry to your home to inspect your child's education. If they want to visit, you can decline the visit entirely, offer to meet them at a neutral location instead, agree to a visit but set boundaries, or ask them to put their request in writing.
Third, they may ask: "Can we see your child?" Local authorities may ask to see your child to assess whether they are receiving suitable education. You can ask for this to happen at a neutral location rather than your home. Your child does not need to sit a formal test or exam. A conversation with the local authority officer — where your child talks about what they're learning, what they're interested in, what they've been reading, projects they've worked on — is usually sufficient.
Finally, they may ask: "Can we see your child's work?" This is where a portfolio becomes invaluable. You can show written work, photographs of projects, reading lists, certificates, records of extracurricular activities, and examples of creative work. You do not need to show every piece of work your child has ever done, formal lesson plans, timetables, proof of attendance at any particular program, or your child's private diary.
How to Prepare Evidence That Satisfies Them Every Time
The key to a smooth local authority interaction is preparation. Start with a simple written overview — a brief letter of one to two pages that covers your child's name and age, a description of your approach to home education, the main subjects your child is studying, how you're delivering education, any external activities, your child's progress in key areas, and your plans for the next year. This doesn't need to be formal or lengthy. A warm, honest letter that shows you've thought about your child's education is far more persuasive than a slick, corporate-looking document.
Next, gather a portfolio of work from across different subjects. Include maths workbook pages or photographs of practical maths activities, English writing samples or reading logs, science project notes or experiment records, humanities project work, creative work, and evidence of life skills. Aim for a portfolio that shows breadth across subjects and evidence of progress over time. You don't need hundreds of examples — ten to fifteen well-chosen pieces is usually sufficient.
Keep a basic log of what your child is studying. This doesn't need to be elaborate. A simple format showing the date, subject, activity, and notes is usually sufficient. This simple record shows that you're thinking about your child's education, tracking progress, and covering a range of subjects. Local authorities find this reassuring.
If your child is involved in clubs, sports, music lessons, or other structured activities, gather evidence: certificates, photographs, letters from tutors, or timetables. These show that your child is engaged in learning beyond the home and developing skills in different contexts.
Show how your child has progressed over time — reading level progression, writing samples from different points in the year, maths assessments, or photographs of projects showing developing skills.
What If Your Local Authority Raises Concerns?
If a local authority officer expresses concerns about the suitability of your child's education, ask them to be specific. What exactly are they concerned about? Is it a particular subject? A lack of progress? Something else? Understanding their specific concern helps you address it. Offer to make changes if they're concerned about a particular area. This shows you're responsive to their concerns and committed to your child's education.
Ask for time. If they want to see progress in a particular area, ask for a specific timeframe (e.g., three months) to make improvements, then arrange a follow-up meeting. If you're struggling, local authority officers can sometimes point you toward resources, tutors, or programs that might help. Don't be afraid to ask. If you disagree with their assessment, you can ask for a second opinion from another local authority officer or seek advice from a home education organization.
Your Rights During a Local Authority Interaction
Remember these key points: You do not have to allow a home visit — you can meet the local authority officer elsewhere or decline to meet in person. You do not have to show everything — you can share a portfolio of work without opening your entire home or your child's private space. You do not have to follow the National Curriculum — your education approach does not need to match school. You do not need formal qualifications — parents do not need teaching qualifications to home educate. You can ask for things in writing — if a local authority officer makes a request, you can ask them to put it in writing, which often clarifies what they actually need. You can seek advice — organizations like Education Otherwise and the Home Education Law Support Network offer free advice if you're unsure about your rights.
A Final Word
Local authority contact can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be adversarial. Most local authority officers are not looking to shut down home education. They're looking for reassurance that children are safe and learning. A clear, honest portfolio of your child's work and a simple overview of your approach usually provides that reassurance. The key is preparation. If you keep basic records, gather examples of your child's work, and can articulate what your child is learning and why, you'll be able to engage with your local authority confidently — and on your own terms.