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Considerations for withdrawing your child from school

You will need to provide an efficient education for them, suitable for age aptitude and ability, including giving considerations to arrangements for qualifications, exams and registering your child for vaccinations.

You may choose to home educate your child or young person because:

  • you wish to follow a particular educational or ideological philosophy
  • of religious or cultural beliefs
  • you are dissatisfied with the system
  • your child is reluctant to go to school
  • your child has problems when at school – for example, bullying
  • of geographical reason – due to remoteness, or mobility for work or cultural reasons
  • you wish to deal with your child's additional support needs in a particular way
  • of a short term intervention for a particular reason

These reasons are common, but not exhaustive.

You will need to provide a "Suitable and Efficient Education"

As a parent, guardian, or someone liable to maintain or have parental responsibilities or care of a child or young person you have a responsibility to provide an efficient education for your child, suitable for their age, ability and aptitude. This can be done by enrolment at school, or by other means, including home education.

There is no current fixed definition in law. Suitable means the learning is right for the individual child or young person. It takes into account their age, ability and any additional support needs (ASN). It prepares them for life as an adult in society. It does not have to follow the Curriculum for Excellence, but it should help them develop their skills and competencies in areas like reading, writing, maths, thinking and social skills. 

Efficient means the education is organised so that it actually works. It should be regular, consistent and effective, not just occasional activities that do not add up to real learning.

Eligibility for support and resources

If you choose to home educate your child or young person then you will not be eligible for a Co-ordinated Support Plan under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. Co-ordination of any involvement from agencies to support the child’s home education will be your responsibility. 

We will consider any request to assess Additional Support Needs but we are not under any duty to undertake assessment or to provide support. 

We will also not be under no legal obligation to provide any other resources to support home education, however we may choose to do so. Any request for assistance will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should be made in writing to the Chief Education Officer:

Address:
Militia House
English Street
Dumfries
DG1 2HR 
Email: [email protected]

On an annual basis Supporting Learners will have contact in the form of a conversation to discuss the progress of the child’s education.

Exams and qualifications

There is no requirement to take exams at conventional times, or ever. Some home educated young people go directly into employment, self-employment or apprenticeships, while others have been admitted to colleges and universities without formal qualifications, often following interviews and/or the production of evidence to support their applications – for example, portfolios of work.

If you wish to arrange for your child to sit exams or gain qualifications, you will need to make these arrangements yourself. One of the great benefits of home education is being able to sit exams at the most appropriate age and stage for the individual child.

For more information about exams whilst being home educated, read the Exams and Qualifications guidance - Scottish Home Education Forum.

Childhood vaccinations

You may be aware that vaccinations are usually administered to children and young people in school.

All home educated pupils are eligible for a range of free vaccinations from the NHS. However, you will not receive a consent form for vaccinations as these are distributed to pupils attending schools.

The types of vaccines your child is eligible for is detailed on the NHS Inform website:

If you would like your child to receive any of the vaccinations they are eligible for you will need to contact NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

You can also indicate your preference for vaccinations when you fill in our home education application form.